# Accident 20030301003059A: Piper PA28235, Westerly, RI, March 1, 2003

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 1, 2003, 15:15 local time
- Place: Westerly, RI
- Airport: Westerly State
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Final Approach
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 41.3494° N, 71.8033° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.3494&lon=-71.8033&mi=10
- Aircraft: N8547N, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8547N-2017-02-28) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-28-235 (registry code 7102810, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-235) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-540 series (registry code 41532, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA28235
- Reported engine: LYC O540B4B5
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 270 total, 10 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB NYC03LA060](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC03LA060) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030301003059A

## Narrative

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

(-23) RIGHT SEAT PILOT GLENN HANSEN WAS ON APPROACH TO WESTERLY RUNWAY 25 WITH THE ENGINE POWER REDUCED TO IDLE RPM AND ADDED POWER TO CORRECT FOR LOW ALTITUDE. HANSEN REPORTED THAT THE ENGINE FAILED TO RESPOND. BOTH PILOTS REPORTED LEFT SEAT PILOT AND OWNER REYNALDO TEXIDOR SWITCHED THE FUEL SELECTOR TO THE LEFT TANK AND ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE ENGINE WITHOUT SUCCESS. THE AIRCRAFT CONTACTED TREES SLIGHTLY TO THE RIGHT OF THE CENTERLINE OF RUNWAY 25 SEVERING THE LEFT WING FROM THE FUSELAGE AND CAME TO REST NEARLY VERTICAL NOSE DOWN APPROXIMATELY 500 FEET FROM THE APPROACH END EMBANKMENT ON THE EAST SIDE OF US ROUTE 1 BESIDE THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BUILDING PARKING LOT. (.19) ON MARCH 1, 2003, ABOUT 1455 EASTERN STANDARD TIME, A PIPER PA-28-235, N8547N, WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED DURING A COLLISION WITH TREES, WHILE ON APPROACH TO WESTERLY STATE AIRPORT (WST), WESTERLY, RHODE ISLAND. THE CERTIFICATED PRIVATE PILOT AND PILOT RATED PASSENGER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED, AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED FOR THE LOCAL PERSONAL FLIGHT CONDUCTED UNDER 14 CFR PART 91. THE PILOT STATE                                                                       D THAT HE WAS PERFORMING TOUCH-AND-GO LANDINGS TO RUNWAY 25 AT WST. HE HAD COMPLETED THREE LANDINGS WITH THE FUEL SELECTOR POSITIONED TO THE LEFT TANK, AND TWO LANDINGS WITH THE FUEL SELECTOR POSITIONED TO THE RIGHT TANK. THE PILOT RATED PASSENGER WAS MANIPULATING THE CONTROLS DURING THE SIXTH APPROACH. WHILE ON A BASE LEG FOR THE RUNWAY, THE ENGINE LOST ALL POWER, AND THE PILOT TOOK CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE. HE VERIFIED THAT THE FUEL PUMP WAS ON, AND POSITIONED THE FUEL SELECTOR TO A DIFFERENT TANK. HE ALSO CYCLED THE THROTTLE AND IGNITION KEY IN AN ATTEMPT TO RESTART THE ENGINE. THE ENGINE DID NOT RESTART, AND THE AIRPLANE STRUCK TREES PRIOR TO THE RUNWAY. A FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION (FAA) INSPECTOR EXAMINED THE WRECKAGE. SHE STATED THAT THE LEFT WING HAD SEPARATED, BUT THE RIGHT WING REMAINED INTACT. THE INSPECTOR OBSERVED FUEL IN THE FUEL SELECTOR, CARBURETOR BOW, AND RIGHT FUEL TANK. THE FUEL IN THE CARBURETOR BOWL AND CARBURETOR STRAINER WAS ABSENT OF DEBRIS. SHE NOTED THAT ONE PROPELLER BLADE WAS BENT AFT, AND MISSING THE TIP, AND THE OTHER BLADE WAS TWISTED. THE MUFFLER WAS BENT SMOOTHLY, WITH NO CRACKS. THE INSPECTOR WAS ABLE TO ROTATE THE PROPELLER BY HAND, AND CONFIRM CRANKSHAFT AND CAMSHAFT CONTINUITY.

## 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 NYC03LA060](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC03LA060), Mar 1, 2003: Piper PA-28-235 (N8547N), Westerly, RI, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot-in-command's delayed remedial action when the airplane flew below the glidepath, and a total loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.

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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