The commercial pilot and five passengers departed on a personal night cross-country flight in the Piper PA32.
According to the pilot, the engine start and run-up were uneventful. Shortly after takeoff, the engine lost total power, and the pilot was unable to maintain altitude.
He conducted a forced landing near Roanoke, Texas. The airplane hit the ground and came to rest at the base of several trees and bushes. Both wings separated from the airplane and the fuselage came to rest on its left side.
The pilot and two passenger sustained minor injuries, two passengers were not injured, and one passenger sustained serious injuries.
An engine examination revealed that the upper right spark plugs were in a worn-out normal condition and the lower spark plugs were in a worn-out severe condition.
The lower spark plugs were replaced, and a test engine run was conducted. The engine started and ran without hesitation at various power settings.
However, it was noted during the test that the engine would not run on the right magneto.
Further examination of the right magneto found a failed magneto coil.
Despite the failed coil on the right magneto and the spark plug condition, the engine ran at full power settings.
No other anomalies were noted with the engine or fuel system that would have precluded normal operation.
A failed magneto or the noted spark plug conditions would have resulted in a rough-running engine but not a complete loss of engine power as the pilot described. The reason for the total loss of power could not be determined.
Probable cause: The total loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined based on the available evidence.
NTSB Identification: CEN18LA377
This September 2018 accident report is provided by the National Transportation Safety Board. Published as an educational tool, it is intended to help pilots learn from the misfortunes of others.
33354 was owned by Six4aSix. I used to be the maint officer for that “club”. And back in those days we kept track of all time-limited items and used two different A&P/IAs . I moved out of the area in 2012 so I don’t know who all was in that “club” at the time of this crash.
That said, could someone have run the engine lean and damaged those plugs like that? I ask because unless they got slipshod, those planes were well maintained back before I got in that group and during the time I was in it.
It is likely that the higher firing voltage required by the severely worn spark plugs CAUSED the magneto coil failure.
A ‘rough running engine’ ? According to the FAA engine test run, the engine would not start initially They tried 3 times but no start. They had to replace the severely worn lower plugs to get the engine to run. All the other plugs were worn-severe.
see; https://dms.ntsb.gov/pubdms/search/document.cfm?docID=473938&docketID=62567&mkey=98271
So this poorly maintained engine then suffered a mag failure, and the aircraft is now junk. All for the cost of a set of spark plugs.!.