Piper PA-25-235 accident near Bainbridge, Georgia, August 27, 2009
On August 27, 2009 at about 1:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-25-235, registered N7339Z, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering (low-alt flying) near Bainbridge, Georgia. It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A total loss of engine power due to the loss of camshaft timing as a result of the displacement of the idler gear assembly.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 27, 2009 · about 1:00 pm local time
- Place
- Bainbridge, Georgia · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-25-235 · all PA-25-235s on the register
- Registration
- N7339Z · no longer on the register · serial 25-3289
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane was performing a training aerial application over a farm field when the engine lost power and the pilot performed a forced landing to a field, where the airplane impacted a tree. A subsequent examination of the engine revealed that within the accessory section, the idler gear assembly, which normally transferred power from the crankshaft to the left magneto and the camshaft, had been displaced. The short shaft had also been displaced. The mounting plate retaining screws appeared to be sheared. The crankcase surface area around the screw hole exhibited rotational scoring, and the idler gear, located in the oil sump, had no missing or damaged gear teeth. Metal particles were found in the bottom of the crankcase and oil sump. The engine operating time was below the recommended time between overhaul. The failure sequence could not be determined, and although the left magneto had been replaced approximately 12 flight hours prior, the replacement of the magneto could not be correlated to the displacement of the idler gear assembly.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Loss of engine power (total) during maneuvering (low-alt flying) defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (reciprocating) › Recip eng rear section › Failure
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Accessory gear › boxes › (general) › Not specified
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 340 hours in all; 9 in this make and model; 90 in the last 90 days
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,430 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 1, 2008; 199 hours since
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540 B2C5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BGE Bainbridge GA
- Destination: BGE Bainbridge GA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observation at 1:00 pm from BGE, 4 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.