Piper PA-28R-200 Arrow II, N55612: July 12, 2017 ● March 02, 2018 ● March 29, 2018

The National Transportation Safety Board did not travel to the scene of this accident.

Additional Participating Entity:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Miramar, Florida

Aviation Accident Final  Report - National Transportation Safety Board: https://app.ntsb.gov/pdf

Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board: https://dms.ntsb.gov/pubdms

http://registry.faa.gov/N55612

Location: Pembroke Pines, FL
Accident Number: ERA17LA266
Date & Time: 07/12/2017, 1146 EDT
Registration: N55612
Aircraft: PIPER PA28R
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Loss of engine power (total)
Injuries: 2 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Instructional 

Analysis 

The flight instructor reported that, about 30 minutes into the local, instructional flight with a pilot receiving instruction onboard, the fuel selector was moved from the right tank position to the left tank position. Shortly thereafter, the engine began to run roughly and lose power. The fuel selector was then moved back to the right tank position, which restored engine power. The instructor then chose to return to the departure airport. About 2 minutes after switching the fuel selector to the right tank, the engine lost power again, and the instructor took control of the airplane and followed the emergency procedures, but his attempts to restore power were unsuccessful. The instructor conducted a forced landing to a levy, during which the airplane sustained substantial damage, and the right main landing gear collapsed.

During postaccident examination of the right and left fuel tanks, no fuel contamination was found, and the tanks contained sufficient fuel. Test-runs of the engine with the fuel selector positioned to the left and right tank positions revealed no evidence of any preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation. The reason for the loss of engine power could not be determined.

Probable Cause and Findings

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:
The loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined postaccident engine test-runs revealed no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.

Findings

Not determined
Not determined - Unknown/Not determined (Cause)


Factual Information

On July 12, 2017, about 1146 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-28R-200, N55612, was substantially damaged during a forced landing to a levy near Pembroke Pines, Florida. The flight instructor and pilot-rated student were not injured. The airplane was being operated under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as an instructional flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the local flight that originated about 1112 from North Perry Airport (HWO), Hollywood, Florida.

The flight instructor stated that about 30 minutes into the flight while performing a pre-maneuver checklist, the fuel selector was switched from the right to left tank position. Shortly afterwards the engine began to run rough accompanied by a loss of engine power. The fuel selector was then changed back to the original position which restored engine power. The flight instructor elected to return to HWO, and about 2 minutes after switching to the right tank, the engine lost power again, and could not be restored. He maneuvered the airplane for a forced landing on a nearby levy.

According to the Federal Aviation Administration inspector who examined the airplane while it was at the accident site, two distinct marks were noted on the sloped portion off the right side of the levy. Farther along the direction of travel, a continuous mark from the left main landing gear was noted on the sloped portion off the left side of the levy. The airplane came to rest on the top of the levy with the right main landing gear collapsed, and no damage to the propeller. Although there was fuel leakage from the right fuel tank due to puncture, an adequate supply of uncontaminated fuel remained in each fuel tank. The fuel selector was found in the off position with the locking mechanism engaged and locked.

With the assistance of the operator, the engine was started and operated between 600 and 2,000 rpm with the fuel selector on the left and right positions, also while exercising the fuel selector from left to right and right to left positions, with no discrepancies noted. The manifold pressure and fuel pressure were within normal limits. Checks of each magneto was performed at 2,000 rpm with each mag drop between 50 and 75 rpm. The engine was briefly run to full static rpm with the fuel selector on the left and right positions, with no discrepancies noted. Safety concerns prevented prolonged full power engine operation. During engine operation the left fuel gauge indicated 7/8 capacity, while the right fuel gauge indicated almost full. No contamination was noted in the wing fuel tanks, which were drained prior to removing the wings to facilitate recovery of the airplane.

Examination of the fuel selector following recovery revealed only residual fuel remained in the fuel selector, and oily residue was noted on the outside of the selector valve rotation area. The fuel selector valve was removed and sent to NTSB for examination.

Examination of the fuel selector valve revealed that movement of the shaft resulted in corresponding movement of the inner portion. The valve could be positioned to the left and right positions with no blockage noted. It also could be positioned to the off position. No further testing of the valve was performed. 

Flight Instructor Information

Certificate: Flight Instructor; Commercial
Age: 27, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Multi-engine Land; Single-engine Land
Seat Occupied: Right
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None
Restraint Used: 3-point
Instrument Rating(s): Airplane
Second Pilot Present: Yes
Instructor Rating(s): Airplane Single-engine
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: Class 1 Without Waivers/Limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: 10/05/2016
Occupational Pilot: Yes
Last Flight Review or Equivalent: 06/28/2017
Flight Time: 34 hours (Total, this make and model)

Student Pilot Information

Certificate: Private
Age: 20, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Single-engine Land
Seat Occupied: Left
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None
Restraint Used: 3-point
Instrument Rating(s): Airplane
Second Pilot Present: Yes
Instructor Rating(s): None
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: Class 1 Without Waivers/Limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: 09/23/2016
Occupational Pilot: No
Last Flight Review or Equivalent: 05/28/2017
Flight Time: 1 hours (Total, this make and model)

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: PIPER
Registration: N55612
Model/Series: PA28R 200
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture: 1973
Amateur Built: No
Airworthiness Certificate: Normal
Serial Number: 28R-7335259
Landing Gear Type: Retractable - Tricycle
Seats: 4
Date/Type of Last Inspection: 06/27/2017, Annual
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 2600 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection: 17 Hours
Engines: 1 Reciprocating
Airframe Total Time: 6072.8 Hours as of last inspection
Engine Manufacturer: LYCOMING
ELT: 
Engine Model/Series: IO-360-C1C
Registered Owner: FATHER & DAUGHTER AVIATION LLC
Rated Power: 200 hp
Operator: Wayman Aviation
Operating Certificate(s) Held: Pilot School (141)
Operator Does Business As: American Flight Training, LLC.
Operator Designator Code:

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: Visual Conditions
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: HWO, 9 ft msl
Distance from Accident Site: 14 Nautical Miles
Observation Time: 1153 EDT
Direction from Accident Site: 95°
Lowest Cloud Condition: Scattered / 2600 ft agl
Visibility:  10 Miles
Lowest Ceiling: None
Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: 14 knots /
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual: None / None
Wind Direction: 90°
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual: N/A / N/A
Altimeter Setting: 30.08 inches Hg
Temperature/Dew Point: 32°C / 24°C
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: Hollywood, FL (HWO)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Destination: Hollywood, FL (HWO)
Type of Clearance: None
Departure Time: 1112 EDT
Type of Airspace:

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 2 None
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 2 None
Latitude, Longitude:  26.023333, -80.500833 (est)

Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; South Florida 

March 29, 2018:  Aircraft landed and gear collapsed at North Perry Airport (KHWO), Pembroke Pines, Broward County, Florida

Date: 29-MAR-18
Time: 13:20:00Z
Regis#: N55612
Aircraft Make: PIPER
Aircraft Model: PA 28R 200
Event Type: INCIDENT
Highest Injury: NONE
Aircraft Missing: No
Damage: UNKNOWN
Activity: UNKNOWN
Flight Phase: LANDING (LDG)
Operation: 91
City: HOLLYWOOD
State: FLORIDA

Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; South Florida 

March 02, 2018:   Aircraft reported a bird strike on departure. Returned and landed without incident. 

Date: 02-MAR-18
Time: 15:28:00Z
Regis#: N55612
Aircraft Make: PIPER
Aircraft Model: PA 28R 200
Event Type: INCIDENT
Highest Injury: NONE
Aircraft Missing: No
Damage: UNKNOWN
Activity: UNKNOWN
Flight Phase: TAKEOFF (TOF)
Operation: 91
City: MIAMI
State: FLORIDA

Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; South Florida 

March 02, 2018:   Aircraft reported a bird strike on departure. Returned and landed without incident. 

Date: 02-MAR-18
Time: 15:28:00Z
Regis#: N55612
Aircraft Make: PIPER
Aircraft Model: PA 28R 200
Event Type: INCIDENT
Highest Injury: NONE
Aircraft Missing: No
Damage: UNKNOWN
Activity: UNKNOWN
Flight Phase: TAKEOFF (TOF)
Operation: 91
City: MIAMI
State: FLORIDA

Two men survived without injuries Wednesday after their Piper single-engine plane made an emergency landing in the Everglades at the edge of western Broward County, authorities said.

The fallen plane prompted rescue helicopters from two counties and the U.S. Coast Guard to help.

First on the scene, about six miles southwest of Interstate 75, was the Coast Guard’s orange MH-65 Dolphin helicopter.

The crew — pilots Lt. Drake Thornton, Lt. Mark Amendolara, flight mechanic L.A. Walker and rescue swimmer Ian Jobs -- were in the middle of patrolling the Atlantic Ocean, looking for migrants or drug smugglers off Miami, when they got the call.

After flying northwest at 130 mph, they were above the sawgrass and the fixed-wing aircraft in about 15 minutes.

“Two crew members were out of the aircraft, and appeared to be making phone calls,” Thornton said of the men. “We landed on the levee a little bit away from them and sent our rescue swimmer to confirm that nobody was injured.”

Amendolara said the levee travels in a north-south direction and the plane was pointed south. Its left wheel appeared damaged.

The crew offered the two men a lift to U.S. Coast Guard Station Miami at Opa Locka Executive Airport, but they wanted to stay with the plane, Thornton said.

“We were happy they were calm and everything was OK,” Amendolara said.

The Coast Guard was soon joined by helicopters from Miami-Dade Fire Rescue and Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue, whose crews checked things out and, not being needed, departed.

It was ultimately determined that the crash happened in Broward County, about a mile west of Everglades Holiday Park which extends west from the end of Griffin Road, Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue spokesman Mike Jachles said.

The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating and said the crash happened about 11:30 a.m.

The Piper is based at North Perry Airport in Hollywood, said Allan Siegel of Broward County Aviation, which manages that air field.

“The tower chief received a mayday transmittal from the aircraft and it ditched west of U.S. 27, about 14 miles west of the airport,” Siegel said.

The plane is registered to a corporation called Father & Daughter Aviation LLC which has an address in an apartment building in the 19300 block of Collins Avenue in Sunny Isles Beach. It was not known how it would be towed out of the Everglades.

http://www.sun-sentinel.com