# Accident 20160806016349A: Piper PA-28R-201, Northampton, MA, August 6, 2016 - Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported - Date: August 6, 2016, 11:43 local time - Place: Northampton, MA - Airport: Northampton - Damage: Destroyed - Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out - Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91) - Location: 42.3281° N, 72.6111° W: From the FAA - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.3281&lon=-72.6111&mi=10 - Aircraft: N3783M, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3783M-2016-10-31) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry model: Piper PA-28R-201 (registry code 7102816, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28r-201) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: Lycoming I0360 series (registry code 41515, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28R-201 - Reported engine: LYCOMING I0360 SER - People aboard: 2 - Fatal injuries: 0 - Other injuries: 0 - Pilot certificates: Airline transport, commercial pilot, flight instructor - Pilot flight hours: 6,399 total - NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA16LA280](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA16LA280) (OpenAirDocs) - FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/) - Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20160806016349A ## Narrative As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^. THE STUDENT CONDUCTED A SIMULATED SOFT FIELD TAKEOFF. THE INSTRUCTOR STATED THAT THE INITIAL ACCELERATION AND LIFTOFF APPEARED NORMAL FOR THE CURRENT CONDITIONS HOWEVER, AFTER LIFTOFF THE AIRCRAFT DID NOT APPEAR TO BE PREFORMING NORMALLY AND SEEMED SLUGGISH. THE STUDENT STATED THAT THE AIRCRAFT DID NOT FEEL RIGHT, AND THE INSTRUCTOR ADVISED THAT HE HAD THE AIRCRAFT CONTROLS AND ASSUMED CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT. THE INSTRUCTOR STATED THAT THE AIRCRAFT DID NOT SEEM TO BE MAKING FULL POWER AND THAT HE WAS UNABLE TO CLIMB OR MAINTAIN A POSITIVE RATE OF CLIMB. AFTER CAREFULLY CONSIDERING THE LACK OF ENGINE POWER AND AIRCRAFT PERFORMANCE THE INSTRUCTOR ELECTED TO LAND STRAIGHT AHEAD INTO A CORNFIELD. HE CLOSED THE THROTTLE AND LANDED APPROXIMATELY ONE HALF MILE OFF THE DEPARTURE END OF RUNWAY 14. THE AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE DURING THE OFF AIRPORT LANDING, DUE TO THE SOFT SURFACE CONDITION OF THE FIELD. NEITHER AIRMAN WAS INJURED DURING THE LANDING AND AFTER SECURING THE AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS, THEY EXITED THE AIRCRAFT WITHOUT INCIDENT. DURING MAINTENANCE TEAR DOWN OF THE ENGINE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE ALTERNATE AIR ADAPTER ASSEMBLY DOOR HAD BROKEN FREE DURING TAKEOFF, AND LODGED SIDEWAYS IN THE INDUCTION INTAKE. THIS BLOCKAGE DRAMATICALLY REDUCED THE AMOUNT OF POWER THE ENGINE WAS ABLE TO PRODUCE AND ULTIMATELY RESULTED IN THE OFF AIRPORT LANDING/ACCIDENT. ## 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 ERA16LA280](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA16LA280), Aug 6, 2016: Piper PA 28R-201 (N3783M), Northampton, MA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The failure of the alternate air valve plate hinge pin, which caused the alternate air valve plate to lodge in the fuel servo assembly, which resulted in a restriction of air to the fuel servo… ## Other reports on N3783M (1) Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date. - [Incident 19970818028679I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970818028679I), Aug 18, 1997: Piper PA28R201 (N3783M), Montague, MA, Minor damage. Narrative: during a simulated engine out landing at turners Falls during a training flight, the pilot in command failed to insure that the landing gear was… 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.