# Incident 20150930022899I: Piper PA-31-350, Fairbanks, AK, September 30, 2015

- Type: FAA incident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 30, 2015, 10:00 local time
- Place: Fairbanks, AK
- Airport: Fairbanks International
- Damage: Minor damage
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Operator: EPUA
- Location: 64.8154° N, 147.8567° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at FAIRBANKS INTL (FAI), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=64.8154&lon=-147.8567&mi=10
- Aircraft: N4501B, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4501B) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-31-350 (registry code 7103110, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-31-350) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming TI0-540 series (registry code 41533, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-31-350
- Reported engine: LYCOMING TI0-540 SER
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Airline transport
- Pilot flight hours: 10,000 total, 2,000 in this make and model, 200 in the last 90 days
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150930022899I

## Narrative

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

PILOT STATES THAT HE WAS ON A MAINTENANCE TEST FLIGHT FOR ALTERNATOR REPAIR. HE HEADED SOUTHEAST TO THE PRACTICE AREA AND RETURNED TO FAIRBANKS AIRPORT AT 1500 MSL. WHILE SWITCHING FROM APPROACH CONTROL TO TOWER, HE SAW 5-8 BIRDS AND FELT ONE IMPACT. HE STATED THAT HE COULD NOT SEE ANY DAMAGE FROM INSIDE THE AIRCRAFT. UNEVENTFUL LANDING. UPON POSTFLIGHT INSPECTION, HE NOTICED IMPACT DAMAGE ON THE RIGHT WING LEADING EDGE OUTBOARD OF THE NACELLE. PILOT NOTIFIED MAINTENANCE AND NOTED THE DISCREPANCY IN THE LOGBOOK.

PHOTOGRAPH PROVIDED BY CARRIER INDICATES DAMAGE TO THE RIGHT WING LEADING EDGE, EXTENDING AFT TO THE SPAR INCLUDING A RIB.

REPAIR DOCUMENTATION SHOWS DAMAGE DID NOT INCLUDE THE FORWARD WING SPAR.

## Other reports on N4501B (2)

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

- [Incident 20140927018199I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20140927018199I), Sep 27, 2014: Piper PA-31-350 (N4501B), Kotzebue, AK, No damage. During cruise flight, the left engine operation became erratic. As a precautionary measure, the pilot shut down, secured the engine, and landed without further…
- [Incident 19960527023669I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960527023669I), May 27, 1996: Piper PA31350 (N4501B), Show Low, AZ. Narrative: on may 27, 1996 at approx. 1630 MST, the pilot of N4501B a Piper navajo, operating for a commuter airline with 1 passenger on board, observed smoke…

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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