Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Ellsworth, Nebraska 69340
Monday, March 21, 1994 12:05 MST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

While on a cross country flight at 10,000 feet msl, the airplane had a total loss of engine power. The pilot attempted to restart the engine without success. A forced landing was made on a county road and the airplane ran into a ditch. During the engine examination it was found that the left magneto impulse coupling had jammed. The crankshaft drive gear was found to be sheared from the crankshaft.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the jammed impulse coupling on the left magneto which caused the crankshaft drive gear to shear from the crankshaft.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/21/1994
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1205
Event Time Zone Mountain Standard Time
Event City ELLSWORTH
Event State NEBRASKA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 69340
Event Date Year 1994
Event Date Month 3
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1850 Mountain Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 50
Weather Observation Facility ID AIA
Elevation of weather observation facility 3929
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 95
Time Zone of the weather observation MST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 20
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 18
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -6
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 260
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 21
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 34
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 5
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1189
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Mar 21 1994 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1430
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 6 2000 10:49AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N5251S
NTSB Number CHI94LA121
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-32-300
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-32-300
Aircraft Serial Number 32-40954
Certified Max Gross Weight 3400
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 6
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jul 31 1993 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 75
Airframe Hours 2450
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name LYNN CARLSON
Aircraft Owner Street Address 8441 DECKER AVENUE
Aircraft Owner City NORTHFIELD
Aircraft Owner State MN
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 55057
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code ANW
Departure City AINSWORTH
Departure State NE
Departure Country
Departure Time 1200
Departure Time Zone MST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code SBS
Destination City STEAMBOAT SPGS
Destination State CO
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Cruise
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --