Monday, April 29, 2019

Piper PA-23 Apache, N233P: Accident occurred April 27, 2019 near Sulphur Springs Municipal Airport (KSLR), Hopkins County, Texas

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. 

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

https://registry.faa.gov/N233P 

Location: Sulphur Spring, TX
Accident Number: CEN19LA129
Date & Time: 04/27/2019, 0945 CDT
Registration: N233P
Aircraft: Piper PA 23
Injuries: 1 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Personal 

On April 27, 2019, about 0945 central daylight time, a Piper PA-23 airplane, N233P, experienced a dual engine failure and conducted a forced landing onto a field near Sulphur Springs Municipal Airport (SLR) in Sulphur Springs, Texas. The pilot was not injured, and the airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing, nose, right wing, nose landing gear and left main gear. The airplane was privately owned and operated by the pilot as a 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the flight that originated at Mount Pleasant Regional Airport (OSA), Mount Pleasant, Texas.

The pilot reported he departed OSA approximately 0845 and climbed to a cruise altitude of 3,500 ft msl. As he passed over SLR, about 8 miles to the northwest, he noticed a slight RPM drop on the left engine from 2,500 to about 2,400. He increased the left engine manifold pressure to "full," but RPMs continued to drop. The pilot saw a small amount of black smoke coming from left engine and checked that the primer was still locked. Airspeed was decreasing so he made the decision to turn back to SLR. He turned on the boost pumps; then checked the fuel quantity, gauges, and verified fuel tanks were set on main; all were good. The RPMs on left engine were down to 2,000 rpm, with full power. The airplane was losing altitude between 100-200 fpm and was about 3,000ft msl with airspeed and ground speed continuing to drop. "With no warning, the right engine died." He attempted to restart it, but the right engine would not restart. The pilot feathered the right propeller and determined he was not able to make it to SLR. He located a field to perform a forced landing. As he descended to the field, "within about 30 seconds of the right engine stopping, the left engine lost power." The left engine continued to windmill but was not responsive to throttle changes. Following the forced landing and the airplane coming to rest, the pilot turned off the fuel pumps, fuel, avionics, and the master switch. 

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: Piper
Registration: N233P
Model/Series: PA 23 Undesignated
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Amateur Built: No
Operator: On file
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None 

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site:
Condition of Light:
Observation Facility, Elevation: KSLR, 489 ft msl
Observation Time: 1535 UTC
Distance from Accident Site: 2 Nautical Miles
Temperature/Dew Point: 23°C / 15°C
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear
Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: 13 knots / , 220°
Lowest Ceiling: None
Visibility:  10 Miles
Altimeter Setting: 29.94 inches Hg
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Departure Point: Mount Pleasant, TX (OSA)
Destination: Mount Pleasant, TX (OSA)

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 None
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 1 None
Latitude, Longitude: 33.193056, -95.611389 (est)


A small plane crashed off County Road 4763, just north of Suphur Springs, late Saturday morning. No one was injured in the crash, according to law enforcement reports.

The pilot, who is not from Hopkins County, was reportedly testing out the plane. It had undergone engine repair recently and the pilot was reportedly testing it out.The plane had engine failure on both units on the aircraft. The pilot attempted, but was not able, to make it back to an airport. He was, however, able to land in a grassy area near a wood line off CR 4763. The plane reportedly hit down hard one time, then skipped around, causing damage to the aircraft. The pilot escaped the wreckage without a scratch, emergency management officials reported Saturday.

Texas Department of Public Safety had command of the crash site just before noon Saturday, and were expected to remain on scene awaiting the arrival of the FAA for a routine investigation of the crash, according to Hopkins County Fire Chief Andy Endsley.

Original article can be found here ➤ http://www.ksstradio.com

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