# Accident 20090827025409A: Piper J5A, Holland, MA, August 27, 2009

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 27, 2009, 16:15 local time
- Place: Holland, MA
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 42.0356° N, 72.1944° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.0356&lon=-72.1944&mi=10
- Aircraft: N33078, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N33078) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper J5A (registry code 7100702, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-j5a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental A&C75 series (registry code 17005, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-a-c75-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER J5A
- Reported engine: CONT MOTOR A&C75 SERIES
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 386 total, 386 in this make and model, 15 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA09CA489](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA09CA489) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090827025409A

## Narrative

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

MR. HORAN DEPARTED SOUTHBRIDGE, MA, ENROUTE FOR A SHORT FLIGHT TO THE SKYLARK, CT AIRPORT. APPROXIMATELY 9 MILES SOUTH OF THE AIRPORT, THE AIRCRAFT EXPERIENCED A ROUGH RUNNING ENGINE. MR. HORAN APPLIED CARB HEAT AND ATTEMPTED TO CLIMB HIGHER IN CASE THE ENGINE WAS TO QUIT. AT 2500 FT THE ENGINE QUIT. MR. HORAN SPIRALED DOWN OVER A NEARBY FIELD AND PREPARED FOR AN EMERGENCY LANDING. THE AIRCRAFT APPROACHED THE FIELD AND WAS MANEUVERED SLIGHTLY FOR OPTIMAL TOUCHDOWN LOCATION. DURING THE FLARE HEADING 360 DEGREES ,  THE LEFT MAIN WHEEL WAS CAUGHT UP IN THE GRASS. THE DRAG OF THE GRASS SLOWED THE AIRCRAFT DOWN CAUSING THE AICRAFT TO TOUCH DOWN ON THE LEFT GEAR COLLAPSING IT. THE AIRCRAFT CONTINUED FOR APPROXIMATELY 50 FT, BEFORE COMING TO A STOP, HEADING 200 DEGREES. PILOT AND PASSENGER EXITED WITHOUT INJURY.SUBSEQUENT INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE FOLLOWING:1. SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO LEFT MAIN GEAR ATTACH POINT AND TUBULAR FUSELAGE STRUCTURE. 2. CARB HEAT IN ON POSITION, FUEL SELECTOR ON, NO FUEL INDICATION ON WING TANK DIPSTICK.3. NO FUEL NOTED IN WING TANK, ONLY A COUPLE OF OUNCES OF FUEL SUMPED FROM WING TANK.4. ONLY 4 OUNCES OF FUEL CONTAINED IN GASCOLATOR, CARB AND ASSOCIATED FUEL LINES. A TOTAL OF ONLY 10 OUNCES OF FUEL COLLECTED FROM THE AIRCRAFT.5. LEFT WING WAS RESTING ON THE GROUND, DAMAGE WAS INDETERMINATE DUE TO LACK OF INSPECTION HOLES ALONG SPAR. POSSIBLE DAMAGE DUE TO RIB COMPRESSION EVIDENCE.6. SPARK PLUG CONDITION WAS NORMAL, COMPRESSION APPARENT IN ALL CYLINDERS, ENGINE OIL WAS PRESENT, ENGINE TURNED OVER NORMALLY.

## 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 ERA09CA489](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA09CA489), Aug 27, 2009: Piper J5A (N33078), Holland, MA, substantial damage. Probable cause: A loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. A factor in the accident was the pilot's inadequate preflight inspection.

## Other reports on N33078 (1)

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

- [Incident 20070831830209I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070831830209I), Aug 31, 2007: Piper J5A (N33078), Danielson, CT, Minor damage. (-23) During landing roll on rwy 31, the aircraft began to drift to the right, because the pilot made a wheel landing and held the tail off the runway, there…

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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