Incident
On October 20, 2018, at about 0030 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-22-108, registration N5581Z, was substantially damaged when it impacted wooded terrain during a forced landing near Brownstown, Indiana. The student pilot was not injured. The airplane was operated by the pilot under 14 CFR Part 91. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the accident site, and no flight plan was filed for the flight, which departed from Indianapolis Metropolitan Airport (UMP), Indianapolis, Indiana, on October 19, 2018, about 2230.
Pilot Information
The pilot held a student pilot certificate and a third-class medical certificate issued in April 2018. He reported about 120 hours of total flight time, all in the accident make and model. His flight instructor was not aware of his solo cross-country flights, and the pilot’s logbook lacked endorsements for the outbound and return solo cross-country flights, contrary to FAA Advisory Circular 61-65.
Flight Sequence
According to the student pilot, he departed from his home airport, Crossville Memorial Airport-Whitson Field (CSV), Crossville, Tennessee, about 0730 on October 19, destined for UMP. After an uneventful flight, he had the fuel tank topped off upon arrival at UMP. He spent the day in the Indianapolis area for business and departed about 2230 to return to CSV. While en route at 3,000 ft mean sea level, about 60 miles south of UMP, the airplane suddenly lost all electrical power. The pilot reported that in an "instant" everything went black, and a few seconds later, the engine stopped. He cycled the master electrical switch and the engine starter switch but could not restore power or engine operation. Using only the dim light from his tablet computer, he navigated toward a dark area, hoping for an open field. The airplane impacted a heavily wooded area; just before impact, his tablet indicated a groundspeed of 68 knots.
Aircraft and Engine Examination
An FAA inspector examined the airplane at the accident site. The aircraft came to rest upright. The engine was co-located with the firewall, both wings had separated from the fuselage, and the empennage remained attached but damaged. The single fuel tank was breached with residual fuel present, and the accident site smelled of aviation fuel. The fuel selector was in the ON position; throttle, mixture, and carburetor heat levers were full forward.
The propeller remained attached. Fuel was observed in the carburetor bowl. Hand-rotation of the propeller confirmed thumb-compression on all cylinders except the number 3 cylinder; the engine could not rotate through a complete revolution due to impact damage. Top spark plugs showed normal wear; bottom spark plugs on cylinders 1 and 3 were oil-soaked, attributed to the engine resting on its right side. Both magnetos produced spark when rotated by hand.
Electrical System Findings
None of the circuit breakers were extended. The master switch was found in the down position, which corresponded to selection of the spare fuse. The spare fuse was blown, and the electrical system would not power on when tested with the switch in that position. When the system was operated on the main fuse, it powered on. The main fuse was then placed in the spare fuse location, and the system operated normally with the master switch selected to that position. The owner’s manual described a 12-volt, direct current system with a 25-ampere generator and a 24-ampere hour battery. The fuse block contained two 30-amp fuses, but the manual did not specify which fuse should be used for normal operations. A placard near the master switch indicated main fuse (up), off (center), spare fuse (down). No procedures for electrical failure were provided in the manual.
Pilot Reports
An airframe and powerplant mechanic reported that two days after the accident, the student pilot discussed the flight. The pilot said that while en route with landing and taxi lights on, cockpit panel lights bright, and electronic devices charging, the cockpit suddenly went black. He then reached up and turned the magneto switch off while the propeller was spinning. Afterward, he moved the master and magneto switches but could not restore power or engine operation.
Weather
Weather conditions reported at 0035 at Madison Municipal Airport (IMS), about 28 miles east, included an overcast ceiling at 500 ft, visibility 7 statute miles, wind from 250° at 7 knots, temperature 10°C, dew point 9°C. At 0053 at Monroe County Airport (BMG), about 30 miles northwest, conditions were overcast at 300 ft, visibility 6 statute miles, mist, wind 250° at 7 knots, temperature 9°C, dew point 9°C. The student pilot reported good visibility in the area, remaining clear of clouds and maintaining ground contact throughout the flight.