Pilot Debrief

PIPER PA32 near Circleville, OH — 2020-11-08

Final reportCEN21LA049
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Date
2020-11-08
Location
Circleville, OH, USA
Aircraft
PIPER PA32
Registration
N33DW
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Initial climb

Probable cause

The total loss of engine power due to an accessory drive gear that backed out impeding the other gears.

NTSB narrative

Shortly after takeoff, the airplane’s engine experienced a total loss of power. Unable to restore engine power and at low altitude, the pilot performed a forced landing to a field. Examination of the engine found the accessory drive gears would not rotate when the propeller was turned. The reason the gears would not rotate was not located during that examination. After the airplane was released, a salvage facility performed a complete teardown of the engine and informed the pilot’s mechanic that one of the accessory drive gears appeared to have backed out which impeded the other gears. While likely this was the cause of the engine power loss, no further information and could not be obtained.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Engine power loss
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have checked engine performance before takeoff.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • 4 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents4

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