# Accident 19971123034209A: Piper PA32RT300T, Midlothian, TX, November 23, 1997

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: November 23, 1997, 17:00 local time
- Place: Midlothian, TX
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Descent
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 32.4893° N, 96.9907° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.4893&lon=-96.9907&mi=10
- Aircraft: N21433, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N21433-2018-01-11) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-32RT-300T (registry code 7103216, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32rt-300t) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming TI0-540 series (registry code 41533, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA32RT300T
- Reported engine: LYC TIO540S1AD
- People aboard: 3
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 146 total, 30 in this make and model, 28 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB FTW98LA055](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW98LA055) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19971123034209A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

ACFT ENG QUIT, PILOT MADE EMERG LANDING IN A FIELD. ACFT STRUCK A TREE. MIDLOTHIAN, TX (.4)THE AIRCRAFT WAS DESCENDING FROM 8,500 FEET, WHEN THE PILOT 'FELT THE AIRPLANE SHUTTER AND BEGIN TO SOUND SLIGHTLY ROUGH.'  THE PILOT OBSERVED THAT THE MANIFOLD PRESSURE HAD DROPPED 'SLIGHTLY,' AND THE FUEL FLOW GAUGE DROPPED FROM '21 TO 10 GPH.'  THE PILOT MAINTAINED A 'SLOW' DESCENT, TURNED THE BOOST PUMP ON, AND SWITCHED TO A DIFFERENT FUEL TANK. THERE WAS AN INCREASE IN ENGINE MANIFOLD PRESSURE, AND THE FUEL FLOW INCREASED TO 15 GPH. SMOKE ENTERED THE COCKPIT AS THE AIRPLANE DESCENDED THROUGH 2,500 FEET, AND THE PILOT 'NOTICED FLAMES COMING FROM THE ENGINE COWLING VENTS.'  THE PILOT INITIATED A FORCED LANDING TO A GRASS FIELD. DURING THE LANDING ROLL, THE LEFT WING STRUCK A TREE, AND THE AIRPLANE WENT THROUGH TWO FENCES, CROSSED A ROAD, THEN CAME TO REST IN A PLOWED FIELD. EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED THAT THE #2 CYLINDER FUEL INJECTOR LINE HAD BROKEN, AND 'SPRAYED FUEL ONTO THE TURBOCHARGER.'  EXAMINATION OF THE FUEL INJECTOR LINE REVEALED THAT THE SEPARATION WAS THE RESULT OF FATIGUE CRACKING WHICH INITIATED FROM A DAM                                                               AGED AREA ON THE FUEL LINE. AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE 93-02-05 (WHICH REQUIRED ON INSPECTION OF THE FUEL INJECTOR FUEL LINES) WAS COMPLIED WITH 39 FLIGHT HOURS BEFORE THE ACCIDENT.                                              (-23)  SEE ATTACHED. NO NARRATIVE ATTACHED.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB FTW98LA055](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW98LA055), Nov 23, 1997: Piper PA-32RT-300T (N21433), Midlothian, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: fatigue failure of the #2 cylinder fuel injection line in an area where the line was previously damaged, which resulted in an in-flight engine compartment fire and a forced landing. Related factors…

## Other reports on N21433 (1)

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

- [Incident 19891027061099I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19891027061099I), Oct 27, 1989: Piper PA32RT300T (N21433), Spartanburg, SC, Minor damage. Forward cargo door opened on climb. Returned. Put gear handle down. Gear collapsed on rollout.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft 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. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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