14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Wednesday, November 30, 2011 in Seattle, WA
Probable Cause Approval Date: 10/09/2014
Aircraft: PIPER PA-44-180, registration: N2163N
Injuries: 2 Minor.
NTSB investigators may not have traveled in support of this investigation and used data provided by various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.
The flight instructor reported that, shortly after the student pilot conducted the takeoff, she noticed an uncommanded yaw, and she then took control of the airplane. The flight instructor started to land straight ahead, lowered the nose, and reduced power, but then she decided that insufficient runway remained to land, so she initiated a go-around. The airplane rolled sharply right and then descended in an uncontrolled inverted attitude, impacted the ground, and struck a parked airplane. The airplane fuselage and wings were substantially damaged from impact and partially consumed by the postcrash fire. A postaccident examination of the airframe and engine revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.
The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident as follows:
The flight instructor’s failure to maintain airplane control during a go-around.
On November 30, 2011, at 1930 Pacific standard time, a Piper PA-44-180, N2163N, collided with the airport ramp shortly after takeoff and impacted a parked airplane at Boeing Field/King County International Airport (BFI), Seattle, Washington. The airplane was registered to, and operated by, Hillsboro Aviation under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as an instructional flight. The certified flight instructor and student pilot sustained minor injuries, and the airplane sustained substantial damage from impact damage and the post crash fire. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the instructional flight, and a visual flight rules flight plan and had been filed. The airplane was departing for Portland-Hillsboro Airport (HIO), Portland, Oregon.
The flight instructor reported that shortly after the airplane took off, she noticed an uncommanded yaw and took over flight control from the student. The flight instructor started to land straight ahead, lowered the nose and reduced power, but decided there was not enough remaining runway to land, and initiated a go-around. The instructor lost control of the airplane, which immediately rolled to the right and collided on the ramp inverted.
Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the wing section and spar box remained attached and that the empennage remained mostly undamaged. The forward cabin area was partially consumed by fired. Both engines and mounting assemblies were removed from the wing and exhibited fire damage. Flight control continuity was established, although the ailerons exhibited impact damage. The flaps were observed in a retracted position and an examination of the fuel system found no anomalies. Examination of both the left and right engines found thermal discoloration and damage although no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures were revealed that would have precluded normal operation. See the Engine/Airframe Examination report in the public docket.
The flight instructor further stated that the engine did not sputter or run rough, and that the turn felt more like a hard roll than a yaw.
NTSB Identification: WPR12LA051
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Wednesday, November 30, 2011 in Seattle, WA
Aircraft: PIPER PA-44-180, registration: N2163N
Injuries: 2 Uninjured.
This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed. NTSB investigators may not have traveled in support of this investigation and used data provided by various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.
On November 30, 2011, at 1930 Pacific standard time, a Piper PA-44-180, N2163N, collided with the airport ramp during takeoff and impacted a parked airplane at Boeing Field/King County International Airport (BFI), Seattle, Washington. Hillsboro Aviation operated the airplane as an instructional flight under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The certified flight instructor and student pilot were not injured, and the airplane sustained substantial damage. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the cross-country flight to the Portland-Hillsboro Airport (HIO), Portland, Oregon.
According to witnesses, the airplane was departing runway 31R, about 40 feet above ground level (agl), when the airplane veered to the right, landed hard, and cartwheeled on the ramp impacting a parked airplane. The accident airplane landed inverted and caught fire.
The airplane was recovered for further investigation.
IDENTIFICATION
Regis#: 2163N Make/Model: PA44 Description: PA-44 Seminole, Turbo Seminole
Date: 12/01/2011 Time: 0333
Event Type: Accident Highest Injury: Minor Mid Air: N Missing: N
Damage: Substantial
LOCATION
City: SEATTLE State: WA Country: US
DESCRIPTION
AIRCRAFT ON TAKEOFF, CRASHED INTO A PARKED AIRCRAFT AND FLIPPED OVER,
SEATTLE, WA
INJURY DATA Total Fatal: 0
# Crew: 2 Fat: 0 Ser: 0 Min: 2 Unk:
# Pass: 0 Fat: 0 Ser: 0 Min: 0 Unk:
# Grnd: Fat: 0 Ser: 0 Min: 0 Unk:
WEATHER: 0253Z 36003 10SM FEW029 A3075
OTHER DATA
Activity: Training Phase: Take-off Operation: OTHER
FAA FSDO: SEATTLE, WA (NM01) Entry date: 12/01/2011
SEATTLE— A training plane crashed on takeoff at Boeing Field Wednesday night and slammed into a parked plane. The student pilot and trainer were injured and taken to Harborview Medical Center. A spokeswoman at the airport said there was a fire after the crash, which was quickly put out. The two occupants’ injuries did not appear to be life-threatening.
