Additional Participating Entity:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Indianapolis, Indiana
Aviation Accident Factual 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/N112DE
Location: Rushville, IN
Accident Number: CEN17LA271
Date & Time: 07/05/2017, 1440 EDT
Registration: N112DE
Aircraft: PIPER PA 32-300
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Loss of engine power (partial)
Injuries: 3 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Personal
On July 5, 2017, about 1440 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-32-300 airplane, N112DE, performed a forced landing near Rushville, Indiana. The airline transport-rated pilot and two passengers were not injured, and the airplane was substantially damaged. The airplane was registered to Four Aces Escardrille LLC and operated by a private individual under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which operated on a visual flight rules flight plan. The flight originated from Fort Wayne, Indiana, at 1312, and was en route to Jeffersonville, Indiana.
According to information provided by the pilot, while descending in altitude, the pilot leveled off and the engine did not respond to his throttle input. The pilot selected a diversion airfield and began troubleshooting the engine. The engine would decrease engine power with throttle movement but would not restore engine power when throttle was added. After troubleshooting the engine, the throttle would not advance past ¾ throw and the airplane was unable to maintain its altitude. Unable to make any nearby airfield, the pilot performed a forced landing to a field. The airplane's firewall was damaged during the forced landing.
Examination of the airplane found that the throttle control arm was improperly fastened resulting in throttle arm slippage. It could not be determined if the throttle arm was improperly fastened during the last annual.
Pilot Information
Certificate: Airline Transport; Flight Instructor; Flight Engineer; Military
Age: 52, 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: No
Instructor Rating(s): Airplane Multi-engine; Instrument Airplane
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: Class 1 With Waivers/Limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: 02/06/2017
Occupational Pilot: No
Last Flight Review or Equivalent: 04/11/2017
Flight Time: (Estimated) 7158 hours (Total, all aircraft), 619 hours (Total, this make and model), 4490 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft), 107 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 24 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft)
Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information
Aircraft Manufacturer: PIPER
Registration: N112DE
Model/Series: PA 32-300 301
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture: 1979
Amateur Built: No
Airworthiness Certificate: Normal
Serial Number: 32-7940044
Landing Gear Type: Tricycle
Seats: 6
Date/Type of Last Inspection: 03/24/2017, 100 Hour
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 3400 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection: 12 Hours
Engines: 1 Reciprocating
Airframe Total Time: 6396.45 Hours at time of accident
Engine Manufacturer: Lycoming
ELT: C91 installed, not activated
Engine Model/Series: IO-540-K1G5
Registered Owner: FOUR ACES ESCADRILLE LLC
Rated Power: 300 hp
Operator: On file
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None
Meteorological Information and Flight Plan
Conditions at Accident Site: Visual Conditions
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: KGEZ, 804 ft msl
Observation Time: 1453 EDT
Distance from Accident Site: 18 Nautical Miles
Direction from Accident Site: 187°
Lowest Cloud Condition: Few / 3900 ft agl
Temperature/Dew Point: 29°C / 19°C
Lowest Ceiling: None
Visibility: 10 Miles
Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: 6 knots, 130°
Visibility (RVR):
Altimeter Setting: 30.09 inches Hg
Visibility (RVV):
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: Fort Wayne, IN (KFWA)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: VFR
Destination: Jeffersonville, IN (KJVY)
Type of Clearance: VFR
Departure Time: 1312 EDT
Type of Airspace: Class G
Wreckage and Impact Information
Crew Injuries: 1 None
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: 2 None
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 3 None
Latitude, Longitude: 39.868056, -85.755000 (est)
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Wednesday, July 05, 2017 in Rushville, IN
Aircraft: PIPER PA 32-300, registration: N112DE
Injuries: 3 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 July 5, 2017, about 1400 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-32-300 airplane, N112DE, performed a forced landing near Rushville, Indiana. The airline transport rated pilot and two passengers were not injured and the airplane was substantially damaged. The airplane was registered to Four Aces Escardrille LLC and operated by a private individual under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which operated on a visual flight rules flight plan. The flight originated from Fort Wayne, Indiana, at 1312 and was en route to Jeffersonville, Indiana.
According to information provided by the pilot, while leveling off the airplane after a descent, the engine did not respond to his increased throttle input. The pilot selected a diversion airfield and began troubleshooting the engine. The engine would decrease engine power with throttle movement, but would not restore engine power when throttle was added. Eventually, the throttle would not advance past "¾ throw" and the airplane was not able to maintain its altitude. Unable to make any nearby airfields, the pilot performed a forced landing to a field. The airplane's firewall was damaged during the forced landing. The airplane was retained for further examination.
The aircraft made an emergency landing in a wheat field on July 5th in Rush County Indiana. Rush County road 600 south east of state road 3. Pilot did an amazing job of landing the plane safely. Job well done!
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