# Accident 20180502004499A: Piper PA-32-300, West Milford, NJ, May 2, 2018

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 2, 2018, 14:15 local time
- Place: West Milford, NJ
- Airport: Greenwood Lake
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 41.1214° N, 74.3508° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.1214&lon=-74.3508&mi=10
- Aircraft: N4153R, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4153R-2020-06-02) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-32-300 (registry code 7103212, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32-300) (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-32-300
- Reported engine: LYCOMING TI0-540 SER
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 625 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA18FA138](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA18FA138) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180502004499A

## Narrative

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

ON MAY 2, 2018, AT APPROXIMATELY 1410 EASTERN DAYLIGHT TIME, A PIPER PA-32-300, N4153R, IMPACTED TREES AND TERRAIN SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF ON RWY 24 AT THE GREENWOOD LAKE AIRPORT (4N1) WEST MILFORD, NEW JERSEY. THE PRIVATE PILOT WAS FATALLY INJURED. A WITNESS LOCATED ONE-MILE NORTH OF THE AIRPORT HEARD THE AIRPLANE TAKE OFF AND THEN HEARD THE AIRPLANE?S ENGINE SPUTTER THEN SHUT OFF. HE THEN HEARD THE SOUND OF A CRASH AND CALLED 911. A FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR LOCATED AT 4N1, AND FRIEND OF THE PILOT STATED THAT HE WAS TALKING TO THE PILOT JUST BEFORE THE CRASH. HE STATED THE PILOT TOLD HIM HE WAS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH HIS ENGINE, AND THOUGHT IT WAS EITHER THE MAGNETOS OR THE SPARK PLUGS. THE PILOT STATED HE WAS GOING TO GO DOWN TO THE END OF THE RUNWAY AND PERFORM AN ENGINE RUN-UP. IF THE ENGINE RUN-UP WAS SUCCESSFUL, THEN HE WAS GOING TO TAKE A SHORT FLIGHT TO MGJ (ORANGE COUNTY, NY) AND BACK.

ON MAY 06, 2018, A LYCOMING AIR SAFETY INVESTIGATOR AND THE NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY INSPECTOR IN CHARGE (NTSB IIC) CONDUCTED AN INSPECTION ON THE AIRCRAFT ENGINE. THEY INSPECTED INLET FUEL LINE TO THE FUEL INJECTOR FROM THE FUEL PUMP, AND FOUND IT TO BE FINGER TIGHT. THE NTSB IIC RETAINED THE FUEL SERVO AND THE FUEL PUMP FOR FLOW TESTING AT A DATE TO BE DETERMINED.

THE LEFT MAGNETO WAS REMOVED AND TESTED BY HAND ROTATION OF THE IMPULSE COUPLING. THE MAGNETO FURNISHED SPARK AT ALL OUTLET POINTS. THE TIMING WAS VERIFIED AT 17 DEGREES BEFORE TOP CENTER. THE RIGHT MAGNETO WAS NOT TESTED BY HAND ROTATION BECAUSE IT WAS DAMAGED BY THE FIRE. THE RIGHT MAGNETO TO IGNITION TIMING WAS VISUALLY VERIFIED AT 15 DEGREES BEFORE TOP CENTER.

THE SPARK PLUGS (ALL 12 PLUGS) WERE REMOVED AND INSPECTED. THEY APPEAR TO BE IN NEW CONDITION. THE IGNITION HARNESS WAS NOT INSPECTED BECAUSE IT WAS DAMAGE BY THE FIRE.

THE FUEL LINE AND PUMP WERE SENT TO CJ AVIATION, CRS # YPGR715L IN KENDALL, FL FOR TESTING. THEY OBSERVED VERY LITTLE TO NO CONTAMINATION IN THE LINE AND PUMP. WHAT THEY FOUND IS THE FUEL HOSE THAT WAS ATTACHED TO THE PUMP APPEARS TO BE A NON-AVIATION HYDRAULIC HOSE. THIS OFFICE WILL REQUEST THE HOSE FROM THE NTSB FOR INSPECTION TO DETERMINE IF AN INCORRECT PART WAS INSTALLED ON THE AIRCRAFT.

## 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 ERA18FA138](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA18FA138), May 2, 2018: Piper PA32 (N4153R), West Milford, NJ, destroyed, 1 fatal. Probable cause: An in-flight fire and total loss of engine power after takeoff due to a loose fuel line. Contributing to the accident was the installation of an unapproved fuel line by unknown personnel.

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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