# Accident 20110610011729A: Piper PA-24-250, Westbrook, CT, June 10, 2011

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: June 10, 2011, 14:37 local time
- Place: Westbrook, CT
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 41.3386° N, 72.5081° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.3386&lon=-72.5081&mi=10
- Aircraft: N8233P, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8233P-2013-05-14) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-24-250 (registry code 7102404, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-24-250) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-540 series (registry code 41532, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-24-250
- Reported engine: LYCOMING 0-540 SERIES
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Airline transport
- Pilot flight hours: 36,466 total, 6 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA11FA334](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA11FA334) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110610011729A

## Narrative

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

ON JUNE 10, 2011, AT APPROXIMATELY 1437 EASTERN DAYLIGHT TIME (EDT), A PIPER 24-250, N8233P, REGISTERED TO AND OPERATED BY A PRIVATE INDIVIDUAL, AS A 14 CFR PART 91, PERSONAL FLIGHT, COLLIDED WITH TREES AND THE GROUND DURING A FORCED LANDING FOLLOWING THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER, 3.2 MILES SOUTH OF THE CHESTER CONNECTICUT AIRPORT (SNC). VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED. THE AIRLINE TRANSPORT PILOT WAS ACTING AS PILOT IN COMMAND AT THE TIME AND RECEIVED FATAL INJURIES. THE OTHER OCCUPANT OF THE AIRCRAFT WAS A PRIVATE PILOT AND SURVIVED THE ACCIDENT WITH SERIOUS INJURIES AS A RESULT OF THE IMPACT. THE AIRPLANE WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED AS A RESULT OF THE ACCIDENT.THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED FROM THE BROOKHAVEN AIRPORT (HWV) IN SHIRLEY NEW YORK WITH A DESTINATION OF THE WINDHAM AIRPORT (IJD) IN WILLIMANTIC CONNECTICUT. THE PILOT IN COMMAND WAS HEARD BY A LOCAL RADIO SCANNER OPERATOR AND A C-130 CREW TO TRANSMIT ON EMERGENCY FREQUENCY THAT HE WAS 6.5 MILES AWAY FROM CHESTER AIRPORT AT 1600 FEET AND THAT OIL PRESSURE WAS DROPPING AND THAT HE WAS GOING TO LAND IN THE WOODS. SEARCH AND RESCUE OPERATIONS WERE INITIATED BY THE C-130 CREW AND ANOTHER CHARTER CAPTAIN TO LOCATE THE AIRCRAFT IN THE WOODS VIA ELT SIGNAL AND SITE. THE AIRCRAFT WAS UNABLE TO BE FOUND BY THE C-130 CREW BECAUSE OF THE HEAVY FOLIAGE. THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST IN A WOODED AREA APPROXIMATELY ONE QUARTER MILE FROM LARGE HAY FIELDS. FIRE RESCUE CREWS AND CONNECTICUT STATE POLICE FOUND THE AIRCRAFT WITH THE TWO PILOTS INSIDE THE AIRCRAFT.ACCORDING TO SEVERAL WITNESSES CLOSE TO THE CRASH SITE, THEY HEARD AN UNUSUALLY LOW FLYING AIRCRAFT THAT ALMOST SOUNDED LIKE A HELICOPTER. THE ENGINE WAS HEARD SKIPPING OR MISSING ON COMPRESSION. ONE WITNESS STATED IT WAS A DEFINITE MOTOR ISSUE AND THE ENGINE WAS HEARD SPUTTERING DURING THE FLYOVER. NO FUEL VAPOR OR SMOKE WAS SEEN COMING FROM THE AIRCRAFT BY TWO OF THE WITNESSES. ONE EYEWITNESS ON THE SHORELINE OF THE CONNECTICUT COAST SAID SHE SAW THE AIRCRAFT FLY OVER FOR APPROXIMATELY 30 SECONDS. SHE STATED THAT THE AIRCRAFT WAS UNUSUALLY LOW AND SOUNDED LIKE THE AIRCRAFT ENGINE WAS GOING TO QUIT AT ANYTIME. SHE SAW A TRAIL OF GRAY WHITE SMOKE COMING FROM THE BACK OF THE TAIL SECTION OF THE PLANE. NO SMOKE OR VAPOR WAS SEEN FROM THE WINGS. THE PLANE WAS STRAIGHT AND LEVEL AT THE TIME AND GOING FROM THE COAST TOWARD THE CHESTER AIRPORT IN CT.

## 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 ERA11FA334](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA11FA334), Jun 10, 2011: Piper PA-24-250 (N8233P), Westbrook, CT, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: A total loss of engine power during approach due to inadequate torque on the No. 3 cylinder hold-down nuts.

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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