Tuesday, March 04, 2014

Piper PA-28-161 Warrior II, N1449H, FAA Flying Club Inc.: Accident occurred March 04, 2014 in Atlantic City, New Jersey

NTSB Identification: ERA14LA141 
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Tuesday, March 04, 2014 in Atlantic City, NJ
Probable Cause Approval Date: 04/27/2015
Aircraft: PIPER PA-28-161, registration: N1449H
Injuries: 1 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 pilot said that, before departure, he cleared “minor snow accumulation” from the bottom of the engine compartment. The pilot performed the preflight inspection, engine start, taxi, run-up, and before takeoff checks in accordance with the applicable checklists. The engine accelerated normally during the takeoff roll with a “slight hesitation” at 2,200 to 2,300 rpm as the takeoff continued. When the airplane was at 70 knots and over the departure end of the runway, the engine experienced a partial loss of power. Rather than attempt to return to the runway or land straight ahead to wooded terrain, the pilot chose to perform a forced landing to the airport perimeter road. The airplane’s left wing struck a tree and a fence and then separated from the airplane, and the airplane then impacted the road and came to rest inverted. Examination of the airplane revealed no preimpact mechanical anomalies, and, during a test run, the engine started immediately, accelerated smoothly, and ran without interruption through several rpm changes. The magnetos were tested and functioned as designed.

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident as follows:
A partial loss of engine power at takeoff for reasons that could not be determined during a postaccident examination or engine test run.

On March 4, 2014, at 1650 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-28-161, N1449H, operated by the FAA Flying Club, INC, was substantially damaged when it collided with terrain and a fence during a forced landing following a partial loss of engine power after takeoff from Atlantic City International Airport (ACY), Atlantic City, New Jersey. The airline transport pilot received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions (VMC) prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight, which was conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. 

In a written statement, the pilot stated the purpose of the flight was to travel in order to give a presentation on cold weather survival and civilian air intercept procedures. He said he specifically checked to see if the airplane was "clear of snow and ice" prior to departure, and determined that it was, but then later described clearing the "minor snow accumulation" at the bottom of the engine compartment. The pilot described his preflight inspection, engine start, taxi, run-up, and before takeoff checks as performed in accordance with the checklist. 

He then described a "normal" acceleration of the engine during the takeoff roll, with a "slight hesitation" at 2,200-2,300 rpm, as he continued the takeoff. At 70 knots and over the departure end of the runway, the engine "lost significant power." Rather than attempt a return to the runway, or land straight ahead to wooded terrain, the pilot elected to perform a forced landing to the airport perimeter road. Just prior to ground contact, the airplane's left wing struck a tree and a fence, and the airplane impacted the road and came to rest inverted.

The pilot held a commercial pilot certificate with ratings for airplane single engine land and instrument airplane. He also held an airline transport pilot certificate with a rating for rotorcraft-helicopter. His most recent Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) third class medical certificate was issued on October 21, 2013. He reported 3,245 total hours of flight experience, of which 318 hours were in single-engine airplanes.

According to FAA records, the airplane was manufactured in 1977. Its most recent annual inspection was completed September 12, 2013, at 5,038.1 aircraft hours. The airplane accrued 37.1 hours of flight time after the inspection.

At 1654, the weather conditions reported at ACY included calm winds, clear skies, and 10 miles of visibility. The temperature was -4 degrees C, the dew point was -9 degrees C, and the altimeter setting was 30.28 inches of mercury.

Examination of photographs revealed the airplane came to rest inverted on the airport perimeter road, entangled in a fence. The left wing was separated from the airplane at the wing root. Photographs taken at the original point of touchdown, revealed slash and paint transfer marks in the pavement that were consistent with the color and dimension of the propeller blades. The airplane was removed from the site, and recovered to the operator's ramp space at ACY. Later, it was moved to an aircraft recovery facility in Clayton, Delaware for a detailed inspection which was performed by the FAA on May 14, 2014. 

The airplane was secured to a flatbed trailer, with the left wing separated by impact, and the right wing removed by recovery personnel. A substitute propeller and aircraft battery were installed, and an auxiliary fuel supply was plumbed into the fuel system to attempt an engine run.

The engine started immediately, accelerated smoothly, and ran without interruption. The magnetos were tested, and found to be functioning as designed. Several rpm changes, through rapid accelerations and decelerations, were accomplished with smooth operation throughout.


http://registry.faa.gov/N1449H

NTSB Identification: ERA14LA141 
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Tuesday, March 04, 2014 in Atlantic City, NJ
Aircraft: PIPER PA-28-161, registration: N1449H
Injuries: 1 Minor.

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 March 4, 2014, at 1650 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-28-161, N1449H, operated by the FAA Flying Club, INC, was substantially damaged when it collided with terrain and a fence during a forced landing following a partial loss of engine power after takeoff from Atlantic City International Airport (ACY), Atlantic City, New Jersey. The airline transport pilot received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions (VMC) prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight, which was conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.

In a written statement, the pilot described his preflight inspection, engine start, taxi, run-up, and before takeoff checks as performed in accordance with the checklist. He then described a delay in the acceleration of the engine during the takeoff roll, but because the engine eventually accelerated to "2500-2600" rpm, he elected to continue the takeoff.At 70 knots and over the departure end of the runway, the engine "lost significant power." Rather than attempt a return to the runway, or land straight ahead to wooded terrain, the pilot elected to perform a forced landing to the airport perimeter road. Just prior to ground contact, the airplane's left wing struck a tree and a fence, and the airplane collided with the road and came to rest inverted.

The pilot held a commercial pilot certificate with ratings for airplane single engine land and instrument airplane. He also held an airline transport pilot certificate with a rating for rotorcraft-helicopter. His most recent Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) third class medical certificate was issued on October 21, 2013. He reported 3,245 total hours of flight experience, of which 318 hours were in single-engine airplanes.

According to FAA records, the airplane was manufactured in 1977. Its most recent annual inspection was completed September 12, 2013, at 5,038.1 aircraft hours. The airplane accrued 37.1 hours of flight time after the inspection.

Examination of photographs revealed the airplane came to rest inverted on the perimeter road, entangled in the fence. The left wing was separated from the airplane at the wing root. Photographs taken at the original point of touchdown, revealed slash and paint transfer marks in the pavement that were consistent with the color and dimension of the propeller blades. The airplane was removed from the site, and recovered to the operator's ramp space at ACY. A detailed examination of the airplane was scheduled for a later date.



 http://faaflyingclub.com

"The FAA Flying Club is a nonprofit flying club based based at the FAA William J. Hughes Technical Center located at the Atlantic City International Airport (KACY). The club currently owns and operates a Piper Warrior. Membership is available to anyone working at the Technical Center including FAA Employees, Contractors, DHS, Coast Guard, Air National Guard, and to FAA employees working elsewhere in the local area. Whether your interested in learning to fly or a seasoned pilot looking for a cost effective way to fly we can help."
 
Pilot who crashed at Atlantic City International is Coast Guard lieutenant commander  
 
EGG HARBOR TOWNSHIP — A pilot who walked away from a crash at the Atlantic City International Airport on Tuesday is a lieutenant commander at Coast Guard Air Station Atlantic City, with extensive flight experience.

William K. Blair, 36, crashed shortly after takeoff when the plane developed mechanical problems, State Police Trooper Jeff Flynn said.

Reached by phone Wednesday, Blair’s wife, Kathryn Blair, confirmed he was unharmed.

Blair has two addresses, in Linwood and Kodiak, Alaska. Based in the Aleutian Islands, Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak is one of the largest units in the Coast Guard. Blair did not return calls or an email seeking comment.

Blair was commissioned in September 2001 and rose to his current rank in July 2012, according to Coast Guard records. Federal Aviation Administration records show he holds an array of certifications on his pilot’s license. These include an Airline Transport Pilot Certificate for helicopter, the highest level of American pilots’ licenses, allowing a person to serve as the lead pilot on a multi-crew plane.

The certifications require extensive training, including at least 1,200 hours of flight, consisting of at least 500 hours on cross-country trips, 100 hours of night flight and 75 hours of flight using just instruments alone.

The FAA also licensed Blair in November to serve as a helicopter instructor.

Coast Guard Petty Officer Nick Ameen confirmed that a Coast Guard member was involved in a non-military crash while off-duty Tuesday.

The FAA said that the Piper Cherokee went down on airport property at around 4:50 p.m., clipped a fence and was substantially damaged. Responders at the scene said the plane broke a wing and landed on its roof.

Registration numbers show the crashed plane belongs to the FAA Flying Club, a 50-year old club open to all FAA employees or others working at the tech center. Members pay a $300 initiation fee and $30 monthly dues, and $65 per hour, plus fuel, to use the plane, which they identified as a four-seat 1977 Piper Warrior II.

The club provides both liability and hull damage insurance for the plane, with a maximum $500 deductible for a club member.




Officials investigate crash of small plane at A.C. International 

A Piper Cherokee plane crashed after trying to return to Atlantic City International Airport after taking off Tuesday, officials said.

Only the pilot was onboard and he apparently escaped serious injury, said Kevin Rehmann, a spokesperson with the South Jersey Transportation Authority.

The single-engine plane lost power and hit a fence, Rehmann said, adding that the pilot exited the plane seemingly unharmed and was being evaluated by medical personnel at the site.

The Federal Aviation Administration said in a statement that at 4:50 p.m., the Piper Cherokee PA28 had departed Runway 13, then attempted to return to the airport due to a reported engine problem.

“It went down on airport property, and clipped a fence. ... Damage to the aircraft is substantial,” the statement said. The FAA is investigating.

Responders on the scene said that when the engine stalled, the pilot tried to land on the dirt perimeter. He clipped the fence, breaking a wing and the plane landed on its roof, they said.

Rehmann did not have an identity of the pilot.

According to the FAA website, the plane is registered to the FAA Flying Club Inc. at the William J. Hughes Technical Center.

At the airport, flashing red emergency lights were distantly visible from the top of the airport’s parking garage shortly after the incident. The crash appeared to be past the eastern end of the 10,000-foot main runway, beyond buildings used by the U.S. Coast Guard.

A firetruck and two ambulances were seen entering the 177th Fighter Wing entrance at the airport around 5:15 p.m.


Story and comments:  http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com 
 
Officials say a small plane, believed to be a single engine crashed at Atlantic City International Airport Tuesday afternoon.

Pilot was the only occupant, sources say he was checked out and is uninjured.

According to officials the plane is upside down off of the runway.

Rescue crews have been called to the scene.


 A small plane crashed shortly after take-off from Atlantic City International Airport in Pomona this afternoon. 

According to The Press of Atlantic City, a small plane crashed around 5:00 Tuesday afternoon as it was trying to take-off from Atlantic City International Airport.

Preliminary reports indicate the engine on the plane stalled, the pilot attempted to return to the airport, but hit a fence before landing, which caused the plane to flip and land on its roof.

The pilot, who was the only person on board, was checked by emergency crews and was not seriously injured.