PIPER PA28 near Wadsworth, OH — 2022-09-03

Final reportERA22LA401

Date: 2022-09-03
Location: Wadsworth, OH, USA
Airport: 3G3
Aircraft: PIPER PA28
Registration: N5666U
Category: Airplane
Highest injury: None
Fatalities: 0
Phase of flight: Initial climb

Probable cause

A total loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined.

NTSB narrative

During the initial climb after a touch-and-go landing, about 50 ft above the 3,530-ft-long runway, the engine lost total power. The airplane subsequently impacted the ground about 2/3 down the length of the runway and was substantially damaged. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that adequate fuel remained onboard and that there was no evidence of any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures of the engine that would have precluded normal operation. While a carburetor icing chart showed that the weather conditions were conducive to the formation of carburetor ice at glide engine power settings, because the airplane was operating at full engine power when the reported loss of engine power occurred, it was not likely that carburetor icing contributed to the loss of engine power. The reason for the loss of engine power could not be determined based on available information.