Improperly Secured Magneto Leads to Emergency Landing in Piper PA-28R-201

Casualties unknown • Approximately 2 nautical miles (nm) west of Hamburg, Eastern Cape, ZA

A training flight near Hamburg, South Africa, resulted in an emergency landing after a magneto dislodged from the engine, causing oil loss and power reduction.

What happened

On the morning of 12 April 2024, a Piper PA-28R-201, registration ZS-SYF, departed Port Alfred Aerodrome for a scheduled training flight. The crew, consisting of a flight instructor and two student pilots, intended to perform touch-and-go landing exercises at East London Airport before returning to their origin. The flight was being conducted under visual meteorological conditions as part of a Part 141 training program.

While returning to Port Alfred, approximately 2 nautical miles west of Hamburg, the crew observed a propeller overspeed indication. This was immediately followed by a drop in oil pressure and a rise in oil temperature. As engine power and RPM decreased, the aircraft was unable to maintain its altitude of 1,900 feet. The instructor identified an open field and performed an emergency landing. During the landing roll, the right wing tip struck an anthill, causing minor damage to the wing tip and navigation lights. There were no injuries to the three occupants.

The investigation

Following the incident, the operator inspected the engine and discovered that the right-side magneto had dislodged from its mounting studs on the engine accessory housing. This separation caused significant oil leakage and a subsequent loss of engine power. An investigation into the aircraft's maintenance history revealed that a used engine had been installed in the aircraft in November 2023.

Technical analysis suggested that the top attaching hardware for the magneto had likely not been properly torqued or tightened during installation. Evidence of severe vibration was found on the threaded area of the top attaching stud. While the bottom nut remained secure, the failure of the top mounting allowed the magneto to be forced away from the flange, leading to the oil depletion and the failure of the constant speed unit (CSU) propeller control.

Probable cause

The primary cause of the incident was the improper torquing of the right-side magneto, which allowed it to detach from the engine accessory housing in-flight, resulting in excessive oil loss and engine power degradation.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 2024-04-12 Piper Aircraft; PA-28R-201 accident near Approximately 2 nautical miles (nm) west of Hamburg, Eastern Cape, ZA?

A training flight near Hamburg, South Africa, resulted in an emergency landing after a magneto dislodged from the engine, causing oil loss and power reduction.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 2024-04-12 involved a Piper Aircraft; PA-28R-201, registration ZS-SYF, at Approximately 2 nautical miles (nm) west of Hamburg, Eastern Cape, ZA.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The primary cause of the incident was the improper torquing of the right-side magneto, which allowed it to detach from the engine accessory housing in-flight, resulting in excessive oil loss and engine power degradation.

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