# Incident 20031025031429I: Piper PA32RT300T, Fayetteville, NC, October 25, 2003

- Type: FAA incident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: October 25, 2003, 15:26 local time
- Place: Fayetteville, NC
- Airport: Fayetteville Regional/Grannis
- Damage: Minor damage
- Phase of flight: Level Off Touchdown
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 34.9842° N, 78.8667° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.9842&lon=-78.8667&mi=10
- Aircraft: N39541, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N39541) (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
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ATL04IA028](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL04IA028) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20031025031429I

## Narrative

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

(-23) THE PILOT DEPARTED GRAYS CREEK AIRPORT (2GC) FOR A SHORT FLIGHT TO A NEARBY AIRPORT. UPON ROTATION HE NOTICED THAT THE AIRCRAFT SEEMED TO "JUMP" OFF OF THE RUNWAY. HE TRIMMED THE AIRCRAFT AND CLIMBED TO 1000 FEET ELEVATION. WHEN HE BEGAN TO "LEVEL OFF" HE NOTICED THAT THE CONTROLS SEEMED TO STRETCH. HE TRIMMED THE AIRCRAFT FOR LEVEL FLIGHT AND REALIZED THAT HAD LITTLE TO NO ELEVATOR CONTROL. HE CONTACTED FAYETTEVILLE REGIONAL AIRPORT (FAY) AND DECLARED AN EMERGENCY AND ASKED FOR RUNWAY 4. HE MAINTAINED HIS AIRSPEED AND CONTROLLED THE PITCH USING THE ELEVATOR TRIM. HE LOWERED HIS GEAR WITH NO CHANGE IN PITCH. HE STATED THAT RIGHT BEFORE THE AIRCRAFT TOUCHED DOWN IT "NOSED OVER". UPON LANDING THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED AND THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST ON THE RUNWAY. UPON INVESTIGATION IT WAS FOUND THAT ONE OF THE TURNBUCKLES AN ELEVATOR CONTROL CABLE HAD BROKEN DUE TO CORROSION THAT WAS PREVIOUSLY UNDETECTED. THE DAMAGE TO THE AIRCRAFT WAS LIMITED TO THE ENGINE, PROPELLER, COWLING, AND NOSE GEAR.

## 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 ATL04IA028](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL04IA028), Oct 25, 2003: Piper PA-32RT-300T (N39541), Fayetteville, NC, incident, minor damage. Probable cause: Flight control elevator attachment turnbuckle corrosion and fracture resulting in the loss of aircraft control in flight.

## Other reports on N39541 (1)

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

- [Incident 19791023054699I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19791023054699I), Oct 23, 1979: Piper PA32RT300T (N39541), Woodbridge, VA. Turbocharger exhaust coupling, PN556-108, loosened and jumped flange 22 hours after AD compliance.

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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