Piper PA32RT N39686

Summary

On 30 September 2016 at about 21:30 local time, a Piper PA32RT registered N39686 was involved in an accident near Camden, South Carolina, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

30 September 2016 at 21:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Camden, South Carolina, United States

Coordinates

34.3050, -80.4744

Aircraft

Piper PA32RT

Registration

N39686

Category

Airplane

Year built

1978

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Florence → Asheville

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA16LA331

2 people had minor injuries.

A total loss of engine power due to the improper torqueing of the magneto, which led it to its malfunctioning in flight.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The airline transport pilot and passenger were breaking in the newly overhauled engine on a cross-country flight in accordance with the engine manufacturer's break-in procedures. About 20 minutes after departure, during cruise flight at 75% power, the engine began running "mildly rough" and then began "cutting in and out." The pilot chose to divert to another airport, and about 5 miles from that airport, the engine experienced a total loss of power. The pilot subsequently performed a forced landing to a field, during which the wings and fuselage sustained substantial damage. When the single-drive dual magneto was placed on a test stand, the left side of the magneto did not produce spark. Internal examination of the magneto revealed that the left and right capacitor fastenings were not properly torqued, which resulted in intermittent arcing and melting of the cam follower and the subsequent loss of power. It could not be determined when the magneto's capacitor fasteners had last been torqued.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.