Accident Piper PA-38 N2363A,
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ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 384361
 
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Date:Monday 17 May 1982
Time:14:50 LT
Type:Silhouette image of generic PA38 model; specific model in this crash may look slightly different    
Piper PA-38
Owner/operator:Penn Air, Inc.
Registration: N2363A
MSN: 38-78A0654
Total airframe hrs:714 hours
Engine model:Lycoming O-235-L2C
Fatalities:Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1
Aircraft damage: Substantial
Category:Accident
Location:Punxsutawney, PA -   United States of America
Phase: En route
Nature:Training
Departure airport:Punxsutawney, PA
Destination airport:Altoona, PA (A00)
Investigating agency: NTSB
Confidence Rating: Accident investigation report completed and information captured
Narrative:
WHILE DESCENDING TO CONFIRM HIS POSITION BECAUSE OF ENCOUNTERING RAIN ON A CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT THE STUDENT PILOT DISCOVERED AN ENGINE RPM LOSS. AFTER ATTEMPTING TO RESTORE POWER SEVERAL TIMES AN EMERGENCY LANDING WAS MADE INTO A PLOWED FIELD DURING WHICH THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED AND THE AIRCRAFT NOSED OVER. ENGINE EXAMINATION REVEALED LOW COMPRESSION ON THE NUMBER 2 CYLINDER DUE TO LEAD DEPOSITS FOUND BETWEEN THE EXHAUST VALVE AND THE VALVE SEAT. THE MAGNETOS WERE BENCH TESTED AND FOUND TO HAVE HIGH ACTIVATION SPEEDS AND ERRATIC SPARK THROUGHOUT THEIR OPERATING RANGES. UPON DISASSEMBLY IT WAS FOUND THAT CARBON DEPOSITS AND TRACKING EXISTED ON THE DISTRIBUTOR GEAR SUPPORT PLATE AND ITS BRUSH WAS SLIGHTLY MISALIGNED AND WORN. THE MAGNETOS USED WERE SLICK ELECTRO 4150 AND 4181 WHICH ARE SEALED UNITS REQUIRING NO FIELD MAINTENANCE. PIPER RECOMMENDS THAT THEY BE EXCHANGED AT THE END OF 900 HOURS IN SERVICE.TOTAL TIME IN SERVICE FOR THE SUBJECT MAGNETOS WAS 714 HOURS.

Probable Cause:

Accident investigation:
cover
  
Investigating agency: NTSB
Report number: NYC82DA100
Status: Investigation completed
Duration: 1 year
Download report: Final report

Sources:

NTSB NYC82DA100

Location

Revision history:

Date/timeContributorUpdates
03-Apr-2024 10:22 ASN Update Bot Added

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