From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.
What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) On may 13, 2005, about 2200 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-28-140 airplane, N55165, was substantially damaged during takeoff. The aircraft lost power shortly after takeoff and crashed. The engine muffler was found to have the baffle loose within the muffler can. The baffler was free to move around inside the muffler can and cover the exhaust exit hole. This situation allowed the baffle to restrict the exhaust flow from the engine and cause a loss of engine power.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) ON MAY 13, 2005, ABOUT 2200 EASTERN DAYLIGHT TIME, A PIPER PA-28-140 AIRPLANE, N55165, WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED DURING TAKEOFF. THE AIRCRAFT LOST POWER SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF AND CRASHED. THE ENGINE MUFFLER WAS FOUND TO HAVE THE BAFFLE LOOSE WITHIN THE MUFFLER CAN. THE BAFFLER WAS FREE TO MOVE AROUND INSIDE THE MUFFLER CAN AND COVER THE EXHAUST EXIT HOLE. THIS SITUATION ALLOWED THE BAFFLE TO RESTRICT THE EXHAUST FLOW FROM THE ENGINE AND CAUSE A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.