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19971024047849A

Accident · Substantial damage
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FAA accident report · Piper PA-34-220T · Philadelphia, PA · October 24, 1997

FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal

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Date
October 24, 1997 · 15:50 local
Place
Philadelphia, PA
Operating rules
General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage
Substantial damage
Aircraft
N8371H
NTSB investigation
NTSBNYC98LA019
Reported as
Piper PA34220T
N8371HRegistration cancelled Jan 26, 1999 · Piper PA-34-220TS/N 348133060Airframe modelPiper PA-34-220T

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

(-16) The pilot stated that when the aircraft was on take-off roll from Philadelphia northeast airport runway 33 extra effort was required on the elevators for lift off. The aircraft lifted off the ground momentarily then returned to the runway and then started to porpoise badly several times before the landing gear collapsed. This inspector's investigation revealed the aircraft struck the runway surface at 2,800 feet from runway 33 and at that point the nose gear collapsed and both propellers struck the runway surface. The next contact was made at 3,500 feet from runway 33, at this point the right landing gear sheared off and both propellers struck the runway surface again. The aircraft made a complete stop at approximately 4,000 feet from runway 33. The aircraft received substantial damage. Left and right fuel tanks were full. The propeller damage indicates the engines were running at impact. All flight controls were checked normal travel. Elevator trim tab was checked normal travel. Note: at the time of the accident the trim tab was in the zero position in the cockpit. On the external walk around the trim tab was level with the horizontal stabilizer. The aircraft weight and balance was checked-one pilot, no passengers and no cargo and the aircraft had a full load of fuel. Pne tower provided ASOS weather for 10-24-97 at 19:51Z. Note: privacy data omitted this accident investigation is considered closed.

As the FAA filed it

(-16) THE PILOT STATED THAT WHEN THE AIRCRAFT WAS ON TAKE-OFF ROLL FROM PHILADELPHIA NORTHEAST AIRPORT RUNWAY 33 EXTRA EFFORT WAS REQUIRED ON THE ELEVATORS FOR LIFT OFF. THE AIRCRAFT LIFTED OFF THE GROUND MOMENTARILY THEN RETURNED TO THE RUNWAY AND THEN STARTED TO PORPOISE BADLY SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE THE LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED. THIS INSPECTOR'S INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK THE RUNWAY SURFACE AT 2,800 FEET FROM RUNWAY 33 AND AT THAT POINT THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED AND BOTH PROPELLERS STRUCK THE RUNWAY SURFACE. THE NEXT CONTACT WAS MADE AT 3,500 FEET FROM RUNWAY 33, AT THIS POINT THE RIGHT LANDING GEAR SHEARED OFF AND BOTH PROPELLERS STRUCK THE RUNWAY SURFACE AGAIN. THE AIRCRAFT MADE A COMPLETE STOP AT APPROXIMATELY 4,000 FEET FROM RUNWAY 33. THE AIRCRAFT RECEIVED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. LEFT AND RIGHT FUEL TANKS WERE FULL. THE PROPELLER DAMAGE INDICATES THE ENGINES WERE RUNNING AT IMPACT. ALL FLIGHT CONTROLS WERE CHECKED NORMAL TRAVEL. ELEVATOR TRIM TAB WAS CHECKED NORMAL TRAVEL. NOTE: AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT THE TRIM TAB WAS IN THE ZERO POSITION IN THE COCKPIT. ON THE EXTERNAL WALK AROUND THE TRIM TAB WAS LEVEL WITH THE HORIZONTAL STABILIZER. THE AIRCRAFT WEIGHT AND BALANCE WAS CHECKED-ONE PILOT, NO PASSENGERS AND NO CARGO AND THE AIRCRAFT HAD A FULL LOAD OF FUEL. PNE TOWER PROVIDED ASOS WEATHER FOR 10-24-97 AT 19:51Z. NOTE: ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ THIS ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION IS CONSIDERED CLOSED.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB NYC98LA019Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportPhiladelphia, PAthe pilot's failure to check the elevator trim prior to takeoff, and his failure to retard the power in a timely manner after touchdown.Oct 24, 1997 · Substantial damage

Other reports on N8371H · 2

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

Accident 19920820032779ALevel Off Touchdown · Bedford, MABounced and porpoised many times on runway landing. Last porpoise pitched up nose high came down nose first.Aug 20, 1992 · Substantial damageAccident 19890916035189ALevel Off Touchdown · Ft Myers, FLBounced and porpoised on landing. Ruptured nose collapsed left gear.Sep 16, 1989 · Substantial damage