Piper PA32R N2920Q

Summary

On 21 October 2018 at about 18:44 local time, a Piper PA32R registered N2920Q was involved in an accident near Indianapolis, Indiana, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

21 October 2018 at 18:44

Classification

Accident

Location

Indianapolis, Indiana, United States

Coordinates

39.8944, -86.3042

Aircraft

Piper PA32R

Registration

N2920Q

Category

Airplane

Year built

1977

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Indianapolis → Indianapolis

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR19LA011

Nobody was injured.

A total loss of engine power due to displacement of the dual magneto’s internal camshaft, which resulted in the magneto’s inability to produce spark. 

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that he was approaching his destination airport at 1,000 ft above ground level when the engine lost total power. After an unsuccessful attempt to restart the engine, the pilot performed a forced landing to a nearby parking lot, during which the airplane sustained substantial damage. A postaccident examination of the engine revealed that the single-drive dual magneto failed to produce spark due to the displacement of its camshaft. As a result, when the camshaft was positioned to neutral, the contact points were opened instead of closed, and when the camshaft was rotated approximately 8°, the points were closed when they should have been open. The magneto was then re-assembled to manufacturer specifications, tested, and found to produce spark on all ignition leads. The displacement of the camshaft resulted in the magneto not producing spark on any of its ignition leads, and a subsequent loss of engine power. It could not be determined if the displacement of the magneto camshaft was a result of an improper installation or if it moved in flight.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.