# Incident 20050223004649I: Piper PA31310, Sparta, MI, February 23, 2005

- Type: FAA incident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: February 23, 2005, 09:15 local time
- Place: Sparta, MI
- Airport: Sparta Airport
- Damage: Minor damage
- Phase of flight: To Init Climb(1st Pwr Reduct)
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 43.1567° N, 85.7110° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Sparta, MI, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.1567&lon=-85.7110&mi=10
- Aircraft: N901AM, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N901AM-2019-08-09) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-31 (registry code 7103103, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-31) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming TI0-540 series (registry code 41533, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA31310
- Reported engine: LYC TIO540*
- People aboard: 4
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 3,100 total, 1,100 in this make and model, 30 in the last 90 days
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050223004649I

## Narrative

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

(-23) THE SUBJECT AIRCRAFT ENROUTE FROM MIDLAND BARSTOW (3BS) TO SPARTA AIRPORT, MI (8D4). THE PILOT PICKED UP 3 PERSONS FROM SPARTA AIRPORT, MI AND TOOK OFF ABOUT 9:15 FROM SPARTA AIRPORT. AFTER ROTATION AND ABOUT 100 FEET AGL THE NOSE BAGGAGE DOOR CAME OPEN AND 3 NYLON BAGS WHIPPED AROUND THE DOOR OPENING AND EXITED THE DOOR TAKING THE COLLAPSIBLE TOW BAR. THE TOW BAR HIT ONE OF THE LEFT PROPELLER BLADE TIPS, STRUCK THE LEFT ENGINE NACELLE DENT AND 3 INCHES CUT IN THE SKIN. THEN IT HIT THE LEFT HORIZONTAL STABILIZER LEADING EDGE, RESULTING IN A LARGE DENT AND A CUT ON THE LEADING EDGE. THE PPILOT MADE A NORMAL LANDING AND LEFT THE AIRCRAFT AT PARAMOUNT AVIATION HANGAR IN SPARTA.

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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