The National Transportation Safety Board did not travel to the scene of this accident.
Additional Participating Entities:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Atlanta, Georgia
Power Flow Systems Inc; Daytona Beach, 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
Location: Canton, GA
Accident Number: ERA17LA277
Date & Time: 08/15/2017, 1635 EDT
Registration: N2804T
Aircraft: PIPER PA28
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Powerplant sys/comp malf/fail
Injuries: 2 Minor
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Instructional
Analysis
According to the flight instructor, during the takeoff roll, he noted that the airplane felt "sluggish." After checking all systems, he and the student pilot continued the takeoff. The flight instructor noted that, after climbing to 200 ft, the airspeed began to decrease while the engine continued to produce power. The flight instructor performed an emergency landing in a wooded area, which resulted in substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. An examination of the airplane revealed that the carburetor throttle linkage was striking against the exhaust shield, which prevented the carburetor throttle linkage from its full movement at full throttle. A review of the maintenance logbooks revealed that a new exhaust system was recently installed on the engine. It is likely that maintenance personnel failed to ensure that the throttle linkage was properly adjusted, which prevented the throttle from opening fully and resulted in the engine being unable to produce full static power.
Probable Cause and Findings
The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:
Maintenance personnel's failure to ensure the proper throttle linkage travel clearance after the installation of an exhaust system.
Findings
Aircraft
Power lever - Not inspected (Cause)
Personnel issues
Installation - Maintenance personnel (Cause)
Factual Information
On August 15, 2017, about 1635 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-28-140, N2804T, was substantially damaged during a forced landing after takeoff from the Cherokee County Airport (CNI), Canton, Georgia. The flight instructor and student pilot sustained minor injuries. The instructional flight was conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the local flight.
According to the flight instructor, after an uneventful engine run-up, they taxied to the active runway for takeoff. As the takeoff roll commenced, he noted that the airplane felt "sluggish." He asked the student pilot if he had his foot on the brakes, and the student pilot replied "no." The flight instructor checked the throttle and airspeed and noted that the throttle was full forward and the airspeed was increasing slowly. Once the airplane reached 75 knots, the airplane lifted off the runway and began to climb. The climb appeared normal for approximately the first 200 ft. Then, the flight instructor noticed that the airspeed was decreasing but the engine never stopped. He took over the flight controls and elected to perform an emergency landing in a wooded area.
Examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed that both wings separated from the fuselage and the fuselage of the airplane was buckled. A post-crash fire ensued within the engine cowling and spread to the cockpit. An examination of the engine revealed that the carburetor throttle linkage was striking against the exhaust heat shield. This prevented the carburetor throttle linkage from its full movement at full throttle. A review of the maintenance logbooks revealed that on July 28, 2017, a Power Flow exhaust system was installed on the engine. The airplane accumulated about 6 hours of flight time prior to the accident event.
History of Flight
Prior to flight
Aircraft maintenance event
Initial climb
Powerplant sys/comp malf/fail (Defining event)
Emergency descent
Off-field or emergency landing
Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT)
Pilot Information
Certificate: Flight Instructor; Commercial
Age: 63, Male
Airplane Rating(s): 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 2 Without Waivers/Limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: 12/22/2016
Occupational Pilot: Yes
Last Flight Review or Equivalent: 12/08/2016
Flight Time: 3623 hours (Total, all aircraft), 987 hours (Total, this make and model), 3518 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft), 16 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 10 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft)
Student Pilot Information
Certificate: Student
Age: 50, Male
Airplane Rating(s): None
Seat Occupied: Left
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None
Restraint Used: 3-point
Instrument Rating(s): None
Second Pilot Present: Yes
Instructor Rating(s): None
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: None
Last FAA Medical Exam:
Occupational Pilot: No
Last Flight Review or Equivalent:
Flight Time: (Estimated) 12 hours (Total, all aircraft), 12 hours (Total, this make and model)
Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information
Aircraft Make: PIPER
Registration: N2804T
Model/Series: PA28 140
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture: 1972
Amateur Built: No
Airworthiness Certificate: Normal
Serial Number: 28-7225235
Landing Gear Type: Tricycle
Seats: 4
Date/Type of Last Inspection: 04/12/2017, Annual
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 2300 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection: 76 Hours
Engines: 1 Reciprocating
Airframe Total Time: 7976.09 Hours as of last inspection
Engine Manufacturer: LYCOMING
ELT: Installed, not activated
Engine Model/Series: O-320-E3D
Registered Owner: On file
Rated Power: 150 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: CNI, 1219 ft msl
Distance from Accident Site: 0 Nautical Miles
Observation Time: 1635 EDT
Direction from Accident Site: 0°
Lowest Cloud Condition: Scattered / 2800 ft agl
Visibility: 10 Miles
Lowest Ceiling: None
Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: 4 knots /
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual: / None
Wind Direction: 280°
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual: /
Altimeter Setting: 29.98 inches Hg
Temperature/Dew Point: 30°C / 24°C
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: CANTON, GA (CNI)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Destination: Canton, GA (CNI)
Type of Clearance: None
Departure Time: 1635 EDT
Type of Airspace: Class G
Airport Information
Airport: CHEROKEE COUNTY (CNI)
Runway Surface Type: Asphalt
Airport Elevation: 1219 ft
Runway Surface Condition: Dry
Runway Used: 5
IFR Approach: None
Runway Length/Width: 5001 ft / 75 ft
VFR Approach/Landing: Forced Landing
Wreckage and Impact Information
Crew Injuries: 2 Minor
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Fire: On-Ground
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion:None
Total Injuries: 2 Minor
Latitude, Longitude: 34.312222, -84.422222 (est)
NTSB Identification: ERA17LA277
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Tuesday, August 15, 2017 in Canton, GA
Aircraft: PIPER PA28, registration: N2804T
Injuries: 2 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 August 15, 2017, about 1635 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-28-140, N2804T, was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a loss of engine power during the initial climb after takeoff from the Cherokee County Airport (CNI), Canton, Georgia. The flight instructor and student pilot sustained minor injuries. The instructional flight was conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the local flight.
According to the flight instructor, after an uneventful engine run-up they taxied to the active runway for takeoff. As the takeoff roll commenced, he noted that the airplane felt "sluggish." He asked the student pilot if he had his foot on the brakes, and the student pilot replied "no." The flight instructor checked the throttle and airspeed and noted that the throttle was full forward and the airspeed was increasing slowly. Once the airplane reached 75 knots, the airplane lifted off the runway and began to climb. The climb appeared normal for approximately the first 200 ft. Then, the flight instructor noticed that the airspeed was decreasing but the engine never stopped. He took over the flight controls and elected to perform an emergency landing in a wooded area.
Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed that both wings separated from the fuselage and the fuselage was buckled. The airplane was retained for further examination.
Cherokee County Fire and Emergency Services and the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office responded to the crash at about 4:40 p.m., Fire and Emergency Services spokesman Tim Cavender said.
The single-engine plane went down near Runway 5 at the airport located off Interstate 575 between Canton and Ball Ground.
Cherokee County firefighters arrived on the scene to find two people had gotten out of the Piper Cherokee.
“According to reports, the plane contained a male flight instructor, who was in his early 60s and a male student, who appeared to be about 50 years in age,” Cavender said.
The instructor was identified as John DiRenzo and the student was identified as John Frierson, according to the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office.
“The flight student had gotten the plane about 200 feet into the air and lost power. It was at that time that the instructor took the controls to return back to the runway,” Cavender said. “Unfortunately, the plane missed the runway and went down a 50-foot embankment before crashing into a fence.”
After the instructor and the student escaped, the plane caught fire, but it was later extinguished by Cherokee County firefighters.
Both the instructor and the student suffered minor injuries from the crash.
Special Operations Chief Darrell Mitchell reported that both of the plane’s occupants were conscious and alert and appeared to be in stable condition. They were later transported to Marietta’s WellStar Kennestone Hospital as a precaution.
The Federal Aviation Administration was notified of the crash and is expected to investigate.
Original article ➤ http://www.tribuneledgernews.com
The Piper Cherokee 140 was about 200 feet in the air at the Cherokee County Regional Airport in Ball Ground when the power failed and the instructor, who appeared to be in his early 60s, took control, Cherokee County fire spokesman Tim Cavender said.
The pilot tried to steer back to the runway but missed and the plane went down a 50-foot embankment before crashing into a barbed wire fence, Cavender said. After the instructor and the student, who appeared to be about 50, escaped, the plane caught fire. It was extinguished by Cherokee County firefighters.
Firefighters found the plane on its side not far from a runway. The instructor and student pilot had what appeared to be minor injuries but were taken to WellStar Kennestone Hospital as a precaution, Cavender said.
The names of the student pilot and instructor have not been released.
Two firefighters were also taken to the hospital with “bumps and bruises,” Cavender said.
Earlier, in Jackson County, a small plane made an emergency landing on a highway after its engine failed.
Original article can be found here ➤ http://www.ajc.com
CHEROKEE COUNTY, GA (CBS46) - A small plane crash landed and caught fire in Cherokee County Tuesday.
A flight instructor and student pilot flew about 200 ft. into the air before the plane lost power, according to a spokesperson with the Cherokee County Fire Department.
The spokesperson says the flight instructor took over to land the plane, putting it down on a hill. However, the plane rolled about 50 ft. down the hill, hitting a fence, which is when the aircraft burst into flames.
Both the flight instructor and student pilot were able to escape through a door before the plane caught fire, according to the spokesperson.
They were not injured, but still taken to the hospital as a precaution.
Original article can be found here ➤ http://www.cbs46.com
This incident apparently caused the following SAIB CE-18-25 to be introduced by the FAA:
ReplyDeletehttp://rgl.faa.gov/Regulatory_and_Guidance_Library/rgSAIB.nsf/(LookupSAIBs)/CE-18-25?OpenDocument
In that SAIB, the full movement of the throttle arm is cited as being the reason full engine power could not be achieved.