20130419008009A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Piper PA-32-301 · Sulphur Bluff, TX · April 19, 2013

Date: April 19, 2013 · 11:55 local
Place: Sulphur Bluff, TX
Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N82723
NTSB investigation: NTSBCEN13LA233
Reported as: Piper PA-32-301
Reported engine: Lycoming IO-540 series
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 0
Other injuries: 0
Pilot’s certificate: Commercial pilot
Pilot’s flight hours: 9,128 total3,847 in this make and model28 in the last 90 days

N82723Registered now · Piper PA-32-301S/N 32-8306002 · Built 1982 Airframe modelPiper PA-32-301 Engine modelLycoming IO-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 April 19, 2013, at 1150 central daylight time, a Piper PA-32-301 single-engine airplane, N82723, impacted terrain following a loss of engine power during cruise flight near paris, Texas. The commercial pilot was not injured. The airplane was registered to galaxy travellaire inc, and operated by the pilot under the provisions of 14 code of federal regulations part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which on a visual flight rules flight plan. The flight originated from parsons, Kansas, at 1030.

According to the pilot, while in cruise flight at 7,500 mean sea level, the engine lost power and oil immediately covered the windscreen. The pilot initiated a forced landing to a field. During the forced landing, the airplane impacted terrain and came to rest upright. Examination of the airplane showed substantial damage to the right wing and the nose gear was separated.

As the FAA filed it

ON APRIL 19, 2013, AT 1150 CENTRAL DAYLIGHT TIME, A PIPER PA-32-301 SINGLE-ENGINE AIRPLANE, N82723, IMPACTED TERRAIN FOLLOWING A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DURING CRUISE FLIGHT NEAR PARIS, TEXAS. THE COMMERCIAL PILOT WAS NOT INJURED. THE AIRPLANE WAS REGISTERED TO GALAXY TRAVELLAIRE INC, AND OPERATED BY THE PILOT UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF 14 CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS PART 91 AS A PERSONAL FLIGHT. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED FOR THE FLIGHT, WHICH ON A VISUAL FLIGHT RULES FLIGHT PLAN. THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED FROM PARSONS, KANSAS, AT 1030.

ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, WHILE IN CRUISE FLIGHT AT 7,500 MEAN SEA LEVEL, THE ENGINE LOST POWER AND OIL IMMEDIATELY COVERED THE WINDSCREEN. THE PILOT INITIATED A FORCED LANDING TO A FIELD. DURING THE FORCED LANDING, THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED TERRAIN AND CAME TO REST UPRIGHT. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE SHOWED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE RIGHT WING AND THE NOSE GEAR WAS SEPARATED.

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 CEN13LA233Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportParis, TXThe improper installation of the connecting rod bolts, which resulted in an engine failure.Apr 19, 2013 · Substantial damage

Other reports on N82723 · 2

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

Incident 20011203033419IGround Taxi, Other Airplane · Seattle, WA(-23) Pilot reported that during night operations, he followed green taxi lights to sea runway 16L and held there until instructed to continue taxi across runway 16L to runway 16R by the control tower. Aircraft struck the second green approach light on runway…Dec 3, 2001 · Minor damage Incident 19910511015389IGround Taxi, Other Airplane · Paris, TNPilot taxied aircraft out of the hangar into a ditch at edge of ramp. Reported to be under the influence of alcoholMay 11, 1991 · Minor damage