# NTSB BFO93LA171: Piper PA-28-180, N4898T, Byfield, MA, September 11, 1993 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 11, 1993, 13:10 local (17:10 UTC) - Place: Byfield, MA - Location: 42.7598° N, 70.9481° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Byfield, MA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.7598&lon=-70.9481&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report October 20, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 8817 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=BFO93LA171 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/8817/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO93LA171 ## Probable cause LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DURING CLIMB FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, climb - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - In flight collision with object, landing - object - tree(s) ## Analysis THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE HAD COMPLETED HIS PRE-TAKEOFF AND RUN-UP CHECKS SUCCESSFULLY. HE WAS TAKING OFF FROM A PRIVATE FIELD, AND AS THE AIRPLANE WAS ABOUT 250 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND THE RPM DROPPED FROM FULL RPM TO IDLE RPM. HE TRIED TO RESTART THE ENGINE, BUT HE WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. HE STATED THAT HE PULLED BACK ON THE YOKE TO CUSHION THE IMPACT AS THE AIRPLANE STRUCK SOME PINE TREES DURING THE FORCED LANDING. THERE WERE SEVERAL WITNESSES WHO HEARD THE AIRPLANE'S ENGINE SOUND INTERMITTENTLY DURING TAKEOFF BEFORE IT IMPACTED THE TREES. THE FAA EXAMINED THE AIRPLANE AND REPORTED THAT THE LEFT AND RIGHT FUEL TANKS CONTAINED 25 GALLONS AND 5 GALLONS RESPECTIVELY. THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS ON THE LEFT TANK. ## Factual narrative On Saturday, September 11, 1993, at 1310 eastern daylight time, N4898T, a Piper PA-28-180, owned and operated by Arthur Allen of Byfield, Massachusetts, collided with trees during a power-off forced landing at a private airstrip in Byfield, Massachusetts. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed. The certificated private pilot, the sole occupant, received minor injuries. The airplane was destroyed. The personal flight was conducted under 14 CFR 91 and the intended destination was Lawrence, Massachusetts. According to the pilot, he was taking off from a private airstrip when the engine lost power. He reported that the pretakeoff checks and run-up were completed successfully. He stated that he used 2 notches of flaps and the airplane was accelerated to climb speed of 80 knots. He reported that about 250 feet above the ground, the rpm dropped from full rpm to idle power. He tried to restart the engine, but he was unsuccessful. The right wing struck the chimney of a house and came to rest in the trees. There were several witnesses who reported hearing the airplane's engine sound intermittently during the initial climb. The airplane was examined by the FAA and the investigation revealed that the left and right fuel tanks contained 25 gallons and 5 gallons respectively. The fuel selector was found selected to the left tank. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4898T](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4898T-1993-10-26), registration cancelled 1993-10-26, S/N 287205220 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-180 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-180) (registry code 7102808) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-7205220 - Airframe hours: 2824 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-A3A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Arthur G Allen - Registered owner: Arthur G Allen - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 1, 1993, 13 hours before - Airport: NONE, Manter Field, runway 5, 1,700 × 25 ft, macadam ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 46; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 1,119 total, 1,059 in this make and model, 1,063 as pilot in command, 29 in the last 90 days, 12 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 320° at 10 knots, gusting 20 - Visibility: 25 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 3,000 ft broken - Temperature: 68 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: BVY, 10 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 (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19930911033939A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930911033939A), Sep 11, 1993: Piper PA28180, Byfield, MA, Destroyed. Lost power to idle on climbout. Struck a chimney and fell into trees. Witness heard engine misfire. Cause unknown. 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. --- 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.