- Date
- March 18, 1991, 09:10 local (14:10 UTC)
- Place
- Hamilton, NC
- Injuries
- 2 fatal
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N2871HPiper PA-28-201T
- Weather
- Instrument (IMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report December 15, 1992
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19910318005709A
- Case key
- 8315
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's improper use of equipment which affected the operation of the standby vacuum pump, the pilot's loss of aircraft control after experiencing spatial disorientation, and his exceeding the design stress limits of the aircraft. Factors related to the accident were: the mechanic's improper use of thread coating material, the pilot's operation of the aircraft with a known malfunction of the primary vacuum pump, and the adverse weather conditions.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot reported a vacuum system failure and a pitot static system malfunction during an instrument flight under instrument weather conditions, but he elected to continue the flight. The flight track and altitude were erratic. After 28 minutes of flight, the pilot reported that he was in a dive. Subsequently, the right outboard wing panel, rudder and horizontal stabilator(s) separated in flight. Examination of the airplane revealed that the vacuum pump drive coupling sheared because of improper thread treatment (sealant tape) used during installation. The airplane was equipped with a standby vacuum system, which at higher altitudes, required that the pilot spool the system (reduce power then advance the throttle) to maintain vacuum pressure.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N2871H
- Reported as
- Piper PA-28-201T
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 28-7921081
- Engine
- Continental TSIO-360, 200 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Business · Part 91
- Operator
- Sansoucie, Barry R.
- Registered owner
- Sansoucie, Barry R.
- Departed
- CRE · Myrtle Beach, SC
- Destination
- PAH · Newport News, VA
- Flight plan
- IFR
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 45
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 813 total
Weather
- Conditions
- Instrument (IMC) · Day
- Wind
- 300° at 10 knots
- Lowest ceiling
- 300 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 57 °F, dew point 57 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- RWI, 35 nm away
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.