OpenAirDocs.org

20050912021019A

Accident · Substantial damage
Open the Markdown

FAA accident report · Piper PA46500TP · Rangeley, ME · September 12, 2005

FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal

© OpenStreetMap
Date
September 12, 2005 · 09:30 local
Place
Rangeley, ME
Airport
Rangeley Municipal Airport
Phase of flight
Normal Cruise
Operating rules
General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage
Substantial damage
Aircraft
N747AW
NTSB investigation
NTSBIAD05LA138
Reported as
Piper PA46500TP
People aboard
1
Fatal injuries
0
Pilot’s flight hours
2,000 total300 in this make and model40 in the last 90 days

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 09/12/2005 at approximately 0930, N747AW, a Piper model PA46-500TP, departed Rangeley, Maine (8B0) to allentown, pa (abe). Approximately 10-15 miles sw of 8B0, the auto pilot, an s-tech model magic 1500, was turned on at 1000 ft. and the heading bug and climb set at 700 ft/minute. While climbing through 5000 ft and the heading bug set to 30 degrees right, the aircraft snapped (rolled) severely right. Pilot "overpowered" the auto pilot, which resulted in a severe yaw and loss of control of the aircraft. Pilot estimates losing 1800 ft before recovery at 200 ft. pilot then executed two 360 degree turns to determine the condition of the aircraft and his passengers. There were no injuries. Aircraft then proceeded to its destination, allentown, PA. The next day the owner/pilot contacted his maintenance company (skytec, martin state airport, middle river, MD). A maintenance inspection found substantial damage to both wings. NTSB, Piper aircraft and s-tech (mfg of the auto pilot) notified.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) ON 09/12/2005 AT APPROXIMATELY 0930, N747AW, A PIPER MODEL PA46-500TP, DEPARTED RANGELEY, MAINE (8B0) TO ALLENTOWN, PA (ABE). APPROXIMATELY 10-15 MILES SW OF 8B0, THE AUTO PILOT, AN S-TECH MODEL MAGIC 1500, WAS TURNED ON AT 1000 FT. AND THE HEADING BUG AND CLIMB SET AT 700 FT/MINUTE. WHILE CLIMBING THROUGH 5000 FT AND THE HEADING BUG SET TO 30 DEGREES RIGHT, THE AIRCRAFT SNAPPED (ROLLED) SEVERELY RIGHT. PILOT "OVERPOWERED" THE AUTO PILOT, WHICH RESULTED IN A SEVERE YAW AND LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT. PILOT ESTIMATES LOSING 1800 FT BEFORE RECOVERY AT 200 FT. PILOT THEN EXECUTED TWO 360 DEGREE TURNS TO DETERMINE THE CONDITION OF THE AIRCRAFT AND HIS PASSENGERS. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. AIRCRAFT THEN PROCEEDED TO ITS DESTINATION, ALLENTOWN, PA. THE NEXT DAY THE OWNER/PILOT CONTACTED HIS MAINTENANCE COMPANY (SKYTEC, MARTIN STATE AIRPORT, MIDDLE RIVER, MD). A MAINTENANCE INSPECTION FOUND SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO BOTH WINGS. NTSB, PIPER AIRCRAFT AND S-TECH (MFG OF THE AUTO PILOT) NOTIFIED.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB IAD05LA138Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportRangeley, MEA malfunction of the yaw damper system due to fluid contamination. Factors in the accident were the air condition exhaust vent design and the design stress limits of the airplane were exceeded.Sep 12, 2005 · Substantial damage