20151201021339A

Accident · Destroyed

FAA accident report · Piper PA-32-260 · Opa_locka, FL · December 1, 2015

Date: December 1, 2015 · 10:37 local
Place: Opa_locka, FL
Airport: Opa Locka Executive Airport
Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Destroyed
Aircraft: N5568J
NTSB investigation: NTSBERA16LA053
Reported as: Piper PA-32-260
Reported engine: Lycoming 0-540 series
People aboard: 3
Fatal injuries: 0
Other injuries: 3

N5568JRegistration cancelled May 30, 2018 · Piper PA-32-260S/N 32-1032 · Built 1968 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.

Pilot departed opa Locka airport (kopf) and around 800 feet of altitude he smell something coming from the vents between the glareshield and windshield, at that time he contacted the control tower indicating that he was returning back to the airport. At that point he experienced loss of engine thrust and subsequently he saw fire flames coming from the engine cowlings. While trying to return to the departing airport and trying to maintain a glide ratio, pilot made the decision to land at the most safe location, crashing onto a water canal near the opa-Locka airport.

As the FAA filed it

PILOT DEPARTED OPA LOCKA AIRPORT (KOPF) AND AROUND 800 FEET OF ALTITUDE HE SMELL SOMETHING COMING FROM THE VENTS BETWEEN THE GLARESHIELD AND WINDSHIELD, AT THAT TIME HE CONTACTED THE CONTROL TOWER INDICATING THAT HE WAS RETURNING BACK TO THE AIRPORT. AT THAT POINT HE EXPERIENCED LOSS OF ENGINE THRUST AND SUBSEQUENTLY HE SAW FIRE FLAMES COMING FROM THE ENGINE COWLINGS. WHILE TRYING TO RETURN TO THE DEPARTING AIRPORT AND TRYING TO MAINTAIN A GLIDE RATIO, PILOT MADE THE DECISION TO LAND AT THE MOST SAFE LOCATION, CRASHING ONTO A WATER CANAL NEAR THE OPA-LOCKA AIRPORT.

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 ERA16LA053Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportOpa Locka, FLMaintenance personnel's inadequate inspection of the exhaust system, which resulted in the escape of exhaust gases into the engine compartment and a subsequent total loss of engine power.Dec 1, 2015 · Substantial damage

Other reports on N5568J · 1

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

Incident 20020522010659IFcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise · Opalocka, FL(-23) On may 22, 2002, Mr. James hunter webster, holder of pilot's certificate (#239707171) operated N5568J on a training flight from opa locka airport in opa locka, Florida. While practicing IFR flight the engine on N5568J lost power. The engine failed 30…May 22, 2002 · Minor damage