20070222004509A

Accident · Minor damage

FAA accident report · Piper PA-28-140 · Topping, VA · February 22, 2007

Date: February 22, 2007 · 13:30 local
Place: Topping, VA
Phase of flight: To Init Climb(1st Pwr Reduct)
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Minor damage
Aircraft: N32285
NTSB investigation: NTSBNYC07LA068
Reported as: Piper PA28140
Reported engine: Lycoming O320E3D
Fatal injuries: 0
Pilot’s flight hours: 300 total30 in this make and model20 in the last 90 days

N32285Registration cancelled Apr 3, 2007 · Piper PA-28-140S/N 28-7525043 · Built 1974 Airframe modelPiper PA-28-140 Engine modelLycoming 0-320 seriesReciprocating

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 02/22/2007, at approximately 1330 EST, the aircraft took off from runway 19 at hummel airport (W-75) and once airborne did not appear to climb at a normal rate. The aircraft, at approximately 1000 feet from the end of the runway, was barely able to clear a row of trees and a powerline. The aircraft then made a left turn and then descended out of sight and landed in a creek. Based on interviews, the aircraft had a history of rough running engine. The day before the accident the pilot cancelled his intended flight due to a rough running engine. He made statements to the local mechanics at the fixed base operator that the engine needed maintenance. However no maintenance record entry was made addressing the rough running engine prior to the accident. Due to the fact that the aircraft remained submerged in water for 48 hours we could not determine if the airworthiness findings in block 43 were causal to the accident or a result of the accident and being under water.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) ON 02/22/2007, AT APPROXIMATELY 1330 EST, THE AIRCRAFT TOOK OFF FROM RUNWAY 19 AT HUMMEL AIRPORT (W-75) AND ONCE AIRBORNE DID NOT APPEAR TO CLIMB AT A NORMAL RATE. THE AIRCRAFT, AT APPROXIMATELY 1000 FEET FROM THE END OF THE RUNWAY, WAS BARELY ABLE TO CLEAR A ROW OF TREES AND A POWERLINE. THE AIRCRAFT THEN MADE A LEFT TURN AND THEN DESCENDED OUT OF SIGHT AND LANDED IN A CREEK. BASED ON INTERVIEWS, THE AIRCRAFT HAD A HISTORY OF ROUGH RUNNING ENGINE. THE DAY BEFORE THE ACCIDENT THE PILOT CANCELLED HIS INTENDED FLIGHT DUE TO A ROUGH RUNNING ENGINE. HE MADE STATEMENTS TO THE LOCAL MECHANICS AT THE FIXED BASE OPERATOR THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED MAINTENANCE. HOWEVER NO MAINTENANCE RECORD ENTRY WAS MADE ADDRESSING THE ROUGH RUNNING ENGINE PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE AIRCRAFT REMAINED SUBMERGED IN WATER FOR 48 HOURS WE COULD NOT DETERMINE IF THE AIRWORTHINESS FINDINGS IN BLOCK 43 WERE CAUSAL TO THE ACCIDENT OR A RESULT OF THE ACCIDENT AND BEING UNDER WATER.

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 NYC07LA068Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportSaluda, VAThe improper repair of the carburetor heat control linkage by person(s) unknown. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's improper decision to takeoff, with the engine developing partial power.Feb 22, 2007 · Substantial damage

Other reports on N32285 · 2

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

Incident 20040106002179IPractice Training Manuevers · Sutherland, VA(-23) The student pilot and flight instructor were practicing power-off stalls when the throttle became stuck at the idle position. Due to the mechanical problem, the flight instructor landed the aircraft in a vacant field. There were no injuries to the…Jan 6, 2004 Accident 19770708021419AFcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise · Glasgow, KYLndd with no flaps on road under construction. At touchdown eng momentarily regained power.Jul 8, 1977 · Substantial damage