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July 29, 2016 · Piper PA28R 200 · N94JR

Panama City, FL

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
July 29, 2016
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 minor injury), 1 uninjured
Location
Panama City, FL
Aircraft
Piper PA28R 200 (1969)
Tail Number
N94JR
Injuries
Minor
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
ERA16LA276

During an instructional flight, the pilot receiving instruction reduced engine power in preparation for an approach to the destination airport. He subsequently attempted to add power and level off; however, the engine was unresponsive and then lost total power. The flight instructor took control of the airplane and performed the engine failure checklist but was unsuccessful in restarting the engine. He was unable to glide the airplane to the destination airport and performed a forced landing in a wooded area about 3 miles from the runway, which resulted in damage to the wings. Examination of the wreckage at the accident site and again at a recovery facility revealed that the right fuel tank was breached and devoid of fuel. The left fuel tank remained attached and was nearly full of fuel. The fuel was clear and absent of water or visible contamination. Examination and testing of the fuel-injected engine, ignition system, and fuel system, including hand rotation of the propeller, did not reveal any evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. Thus, the reason for the loss of engine power could not be determined.

NTSB Probable Cause

A total loss of engine power during approach for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examination did not reveal any evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.

Full Narrative

On July 28, 2016, at 1907 central daylight time, a Piper PA 28R-200, N94JR, was substantially damaged during a forced landing in Panama City, Florida. The flight instructor was not injured, and the pilot receiving instruction sustained minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the instructional flight, which was conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The flight departed Enterprise Municipal Airport (EDN), Enterprise, Alabama, about 1830, and was destined for Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport (ECP), Panama City, Florida.During an interview with a Federal Aviation Administration inspector, the flight instructor stated that the purpose of the flight was to conduct a training session for the pilot receiving instruction, who was pursuing an instrument rating. While preparing for landing at ECP, at an altitude of 3,500 feet mean sea level (msl), the pilot reduced engine power to slow the airplane during the descent. He subsequently attempted to add power and level off; however, the engine was unresponsive and then lost all power. The flight instructor took control of the airplane and performed the engine failure checklist, but was unsuccessful in his attempts to restart the engine. He contacted the air traffic control tower and advised that they were unable to glide to the airport, and performed a forced landing in a wooded area about 3 miles north of ECP. Examination of the accident scene by an FAA inspector revealed that the airplane came to rest upright on the floor of a pine forest. The engine and forward section of the airplane were displaced upward and aft, and the propeller blades were undamaged. The right wing exhibited leading edge damage, had separated from the fuselage at the root, and was displaced up and aft. The right fuel tank was breached and was devoid of fuel. The left wing sustained leading edge damage and remained attached, and was nearly full of fuel. The empennage remained attached and was undamaged. The landing gear was found extended. The airplane was examined again at a salvage facility by an FAA inspector. The inspector used water-detection-paste on a 10-gallon fuel sample drained from the left fuel tank and the fuel was absent of water. The engine crankshaft was rotated by hand at the propeller, and exhibited thumb compression on all four cylinders. Spark was detected at the spark plug leads from the left magneto (which had an impulse coupling) on cylinder Nos. 1, 3 and 4, as the propeller was rotated by hand. Spark could not be detected using this method at the lead for cylinder No. 2, or from any leads from the right magneto, possibly due to insufficient propeller rpm when rotated by hand. The fuel lines leading to the fuel flow gauges, the fuel servo and the fuel distribution manifold were wet with fuel when opened, but did not contain a measurable amount of fuel. The gascolator contained a small amount of fuel and was unobstructed. The fuel pump was connected to an external power source, and produced suction and pressure at the inlet and outlet, respectively. The four-seat, low-wing, retractable tricycle-gear airplane was manufactured in 1969 and powered by a Lycoming IO-360, 200-hp engine. Review of maintenance records by an FAA inspector revealed that the airplane's most recent annual inspection was completed on April 11, 2016, at which time the engine had accrued a total of 4,008 hours, with 106 hours since overhaul. The airplane flew about 21 hours since that inspection.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time19:07 CDT
Nearest AirportNorthwest Florida Beaches Intl (3nm NNW)
Runway16
Runway Length10000 ft
Runway Width150 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Flight Plan ActivatedNo
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA28R 200
Tail NumberN94JR
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · IO-360-C1C · Reciprocating · 200
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 minor injury), 1 uninjured
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor1
Uninjured1
Total2
Crew 1Age 25 · First Class · None
Crew 2Age 22 · Third Class · Minor

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind200° @ 6 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Altimeter29.98 inHg
Observation Time23:53

Appendix: Source Data