20111231030349A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Piper PA-32-260 · Elk Rapids, MI · December 31, 2011

Date: December 31, 2011 · 12:20 local
Place: Elk Rapids, MI
Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N997TB
NTSB investigation: NTSBCEN12LA118
Reported as: Piper PA-32-260
Reported engine: Lycoming 0-540 series
People aboard: 5
Fatal injuries: 0
Other injuries: 2
Pilot’s certificate: Commercial pilot
Pilot’s flight hours: 6,045 total734 in this make and model3 in the last 90 days

N997TBRegistration cancelled Nov 28, 2012 · Piper PA-32-260S/N 32-508 · Built 1966 Airframe modelPiper PA-32-260 Engine modelLycoming 0-540 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.

On 12/31/2011 at 1150 local time a CFR part 91 pleasure flight departed ktvc for a local sight seeing flight. Pilot stated during cruise flight the engine started running rough and vibrated. Pilot executed emergency checklist the engine continued to vibrate and worsen over time. Pilot contacted ktvc tower notifying ATC of power loss. The pilot selected a field nearby and executed a landing. The aircraft came to rest in a wooded area at end of field impacting trees. Pilot and passengers exited aircraft with no assistance. One passenger sustained a minor injury.

As the FAA filed it

ON 12/31/2011 AT 1150 LOCAL TIME A CFR PART 91 PLEASURE FLIGHT DEPARTED KTVC FOR A LOCAL SIGHT SEEING FLIGHT. PILOT STATED DURING CRUISE FLIGHT THE ENGINE STARTED RUNNING ROUGH AND VIBRATED. PILOT EXECUTED EMERGENCY CHECKLIST THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO VIBRATE AND WORSEN OVER TIME. PILOT CONTACTED KTVC TOWER NOTIFYING ATC OF POWER LOSS. THE PILOT SELECTED A FIELD NEARBY AND EXECUTED A LANDING. THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST IN A WOODED AREA AT END OF FIELD IMPACTING TREES. PILOT AND PASSENGERS EXITED AIRCRAFT WITH NO ASSISTANCE. ONE PASSENGER SUSTAINED A MINOR INJURY.

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 CEN12LA118Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportElk Rapids, MIThe loss of engine power due to the failure of the exhaust valve.Dec 31, 2011 · Substantial damage

Other reports on N997TB · 1

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

Incident 19900803054549IFcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise · Westhampton, NYEngine failed after takeoff. Emergency landing in a field.Aug 3, 1990 · Minor damage