# Accident 20140731014999A: Piper PA-32-300, Helena, AL, July 31, 2014

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 31, 2014, 13:55 local time
- Place: Helena, AL
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Descent
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 33.3125° N, 86.9264° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.3125&lon=-86.9264&mi=10
- Aircraft: N9103K, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9103K-2018-09-20) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-32-300 (registry code 7103212, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32-300) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming IO-540 series (registry code 41530, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32-300
- Reported engine: LYCOMING IO-540 SER
- People aboard: 4
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 4
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 440 total, 390 in this make and model, 12 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA14LA369](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA14LA369) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20140731014999A

## Narrative

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

ENGINE QUIT AT TOP OF DESCENT FOR AS OF YET, UNEXPLAINED REASONS. WITNESSES OBSERVED GRAY AND BLACK SMOKE FROM RIGHT SIDE OF AIRPLANE JUST PRIOR TO IMPACT. AIRPLANE DESTROYED BY POST IMPACT FIRE.

## 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 ERA14LA369](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA14LA369), Jul 31, 2014: Piper PA-32-300 (N9103K), Helena, AL, destroyed. Probable cause: A total loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined due to postcrash fire damage.

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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