# Accident 20020720021439A: Piper PA28180, Macomb, MI, July 20, 2002

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 20, 2002, 14:45 local time
- Place: Macomb, MI
- Damage: No damage
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 42.6597° N, 82.9104° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.6597&lon=-82.9104&mi=10
- Aircraft: N16319, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N16319) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-28-180 (registry code 7102808, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-180) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming O&VO-360 series (registry code 41514, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA28180
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CHI02FA234](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI02FA234) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020720021439A

## Narrative

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

(.19) ON JULY 20, 2002, AT 1445 EASTERN DAYLIGHT TIME, A PIPER PA-28-180, N16319, OPERATED BY BERZ FLYING SERVICE, INC., AS A RENTAL AIRPLANE, RETURNED FROM A LOCAL FLIGHT WITH SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE RESULTING FROM A CRACK THROUGH ITS VERTICAL STABILIZER SPAR. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED DURING THE FLIGHT. THE 14 CFR PART 91 PERSONAL FLIGHT WAS NOT OPERATING ON A FLIGHT PLAN. THE PRIVATE RATED RENTAL PILOT WAS UNINJURED. THE LOCAL FLIGHT ORIGINATED FROM THE BERZ-MACOMB AIRPORT (UIZ), MACOMB, MICHIGAN, AT 1330. THE 1973 AIRPLANE, SERIAL NUMBER 28-7305224, WAS USED THROUGHOUT ITS SERVICE LIFE AS A RENTAL/FLIGHT TRAINING AIRPLANE. THE AIRPLANE AND VERTICAL STABILIZER ACCUMULATED A TOTAL TIME OF 13,810 HOURS. ACCORDING TO MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL, THE CRACK WAS NOT PRESENT DURING THE AIRPLANE S LAST ANNUAL INSPECTION, WHICH WAS PERFORMED 7 HOURS BEFORE THE FLIGHT. THE CRACK IS LOCATED APPROXIMATELY 6 INCHES ABOVE THE BASE OF THE VERTICAL STABILIZER AND EXTENDS HORIZONTALLY APPROXIMATELY 1 1/2 INCHES FROM THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE STABILIZER INTO THE 3 1/2 INCH SPAR. ANOTHER PIPER PA-28-180, N56136, SERIAL NUMBER 28-7305538, OPERATED BY BERZ FLYING SERVICE, INC., RETURNED FROM A LOCAL FLIGHT WITH A SIMILAR CRACK THROUGH ITS VERTICAL STABILIZER.

## 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 CHI02FA234](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI02FA234), Jul 20, 2002: Piper PA-28-180 (N16319), Macomb, MI, substantial damage. Probable cause: The cracked vertical stabilizer and the unapproved maintenance modification to the rudder by company maintenance personnel.

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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