Accident Overview
On October 21, 2018, at 1444 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-32R-300 airplane, registration N2920Q, was substantially damaged during a forced landing near Indianapolis, Indiana. The pilot, who was the sole occupant, was not injured. The flight was operated as a personal flight under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.
Sequence of Events
The pilot reported that while approximately 4 miles north of the destination airport at an altitude of 1,000 ft above ground level, the engine experienced a complete loss of power. Attempts to restart the engine were unsuccessful. The pilot executed a forced landing in a parking lot. During the landing roll, the airplane struck a curb and the wing impacted a tree.
Engine and Magneto Examination
A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector examined the engine. Manual rotation of the single-drive dual magneto drive shaft revealed that the magneto failed to produce spark on any of its leads. Review of maintenance records showed the magneto had been overhauled and tested on February 8, 2018, and had accumulated 87 hours since that overhaul.
The magneto was subsequently examined and tested in a controlled setting. When the impulse coupling was rotated by hand and timing was checked with a timing light, anomalies were observed. At the neutral position, the contact points were open when they should have been closed. Rotating the impulse coupling counterclockwise about 8° to the L mark caused the points to close when they should have opened. Inspection through the timing port revealed the magneto camshaft was displaced. With the cam in neutral, the points were open instead of closed; rotating the camshaft approximately 8° should have opened the points, but they closed at that position. This displacement prevented the magneto from producing spark.
The magneto was disassembled, inspected, and reassembled with the camshaft installed per manufacturer specifications. Subsequent testing produced sparks on all leads.
Probable Cause
The displacement of the magneto camshaft, which caused the magneto not to produce spark.