CHI02FA292

The airplane was destroyed when it impacted the terrain during takeoff climb from runway 18. Witnesses reported seeing the airplane bank left after raising its landing gear about 100-150 feet agl. One witness reported hearing the engine overspeed after the landing gear were raised, but that the overspeed was momentary. Another witness observed the airplane in a very steep bank, approximately 80 degrees. He reported the angle of bank was reduced to about 30 degrees prior to ground impact. The passenger who was in the right rear seat of the accident airplane reported that during take-off the engine started "missing." He reported the pilot stated, "This isn't right," and reached to adjust something and soon after the engine smoothed out. The pilot made a radio call (which the witness could not hear) and banked the airplane to the left. He reported the nose and left wing dropped and the airplane's left wing impacted the ground with about a 30 degree angle of bank. The nose of the airplane hit the ground and the airplane spun around, but did not cartwheel, before it came to a stop. The witness reported that he thought the airplane's engine was no longer missing, but was operating normally when the airplane impacted the ground. The airplane wreckage was located in a harvested cornfield about 600 feet east of runway 18. The approximately 65 foot wreckage path was on a heading of about 030 degrees magnetic. A propeller slash was unearthed about 30 feet from the initial point of impact along the wreckage path. The propeller slash was about 51 inches in length measured at ground level, and it measured about 18 inches deep from ground level to the bottom of the slash mark. The north side of the ground slash had been polished smooth and exhibited a gray color on the slash's surface similar to the paint found on the propeller blades. Inspection of the flight controls revealed continuity between all flight controls and their respective control surfaces. Inspection of the engine revealed it rotated and had thumb compression and suction on all cylinders. The propeller blades had rotational scoring of the paint on camber side of the blades, but no twisting or deformation of the tips. The propeller governor's pressure relief valve spring was found broken as a result of a fatigue fracture. A functional test of the propeller governor revealed that the pressure relief setting and the pump capacity were well below specified minimums. Hartzell Propellers reported, "Such deficiency might cause a propeller to operate at reduced blade angle and higher than normal RPM after take-off." Replacement of the pressure relief valve spring at overhaul was required by Service Bulletin 176 dated November 15, 1991, was not performed. The terrain south of runway 18 at IKV was an open field with few obstacles.

History of flight

On September 24, 2002, at 1313 central daylight time, a Piper PA-24-260, N8782P, was destroyed when it impacted the terrain during takeoff climb from runway 18 (5,500 feet by 100 feet, concrete) at the Ankeny Regional Airport (IKV), Ankeny, Iowa. The private pilot received fatal injuries and the two passengers received serious injuries. The Title 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight was departing IKV and the intended destination was the Lee C. Fine Airport (AIZ), Kaiser, Missouri. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. An instrument flight plan was filed but had not been activated.

The pilot had received a weather brief from a Direct User Access Terminal Service (DUATS). He filed an IFR flight plan with the Fort Dodge Automated Flight Service Station (FSS). The airplane received an IFR clearance on the ground from Des Moines Approach control at 1312, but the airplane never contacted Des Moines Approach Control to activate the clearance.

The pilot of a Piper Saratoga that was holding short for takeoff from runway 18, witnessed N8782P departing runway 18. The pilot reported seeing the accident airplane takeoff and raise its landing gear and immediately bank left after it had climbed no more than 300 feet above ground level (agl). He reported the airplane appeared to be entering a left downwind when the airplane's nose went down and impacted a field east of the runway.

A witness, who was walking north in front of one of the airport's hangars, reported observing the accident airplane takeoff from runway 18. He reported that the airplane looked and sounded normal. He reported that when the landing gear was raised approximately 150 feet agl, he heard the engine overspeed. He reported the overspeed lasted a few seconds and then the engine sound returned to normal. He reported seeing the airplane enter a left turn, which to him appeared normal. He did not continue to observe the airplane and did not see it impact the ground.

A witness, who was walking south in front of one of the airport's hangars, reported that he saw the airplane turn left after takeoff. He reported the airplane entered a steep left bank, approximately 80 degrees angle of bank. He reported the nose dropped and the airplane lost altitude. He reported that as the airplane approached the ground the bank angle was reduced to about 30 degrees. He did not see the airplane impact the ground due to trees obstructing his view.

The father-in-law of the pilot reported that he and his wife were passengers on board the accident airplane. He reported the pilot preflighted the airplane while they waited at Exec 1 Aviation, a local fixed base operator. When they boarded the airplane, he sat in the right rear seat while his wife was in the right front seat. The pilot and front seat passenger wore their seatbelts and shoulder harnesses, while he wore only the seatbelt since a shoulder harness was not available. He reported that the airplane taxied for takeoff and while they were number two for departure, the pilot conducted a "run-up" and everything appeared normal.

The passenger reported that during takeoff about 100 - 150 feet agl, the engine sounded like it was "missing." He reported that the pilot said, "This isn't right," and reached to adjust something and momentarily the engine smoothed out. The pilot made a radio call (which the witness could not hear) and banked the airplane to the left. He reported the nose and left wing dropped and the airplane's left wing impacted the ground with about a 30 degree angle of bank. The nose of the airplane hit the ground and the airplane spun around, but did not cartwheel, before it came to a stop. The witness reported that he thought the airplane's engine was no longer missing, but was operating normally when the airplane impacted the ground. The witness reported that he remained conscious, but the pilot and front seat passenger were both knocked unconscious. The witness crawled through the broken front windshield, and was then able to assist the right seat passenger out of the airplane. He reported that fire had started to engulf the airplane and he was not able to extricate the pilot.

Emergency responders arrived at the scene and had the two survivors transported to a local hospital. The fire prevented them from rescuing the pilot.

Personnel information

The 49-year-old private pilot held single engine land and airplane instrument ratings. He held a Third Class medical certificate that was issued on November 8, 2000. He had a total of about 570 flight hours with 187 in the same make and model as the accident airplane. He had flown about 60 hours in the last 90 days.

Aircraft information

The airplane was a single engine Piper PA-24-260, Comanche, serial number 24-4235. The airplane seated four and had a maximum gross weight of 2,900 pounds. The engine was a 260 horsepower Lycoming IO-540-D4A5 engine. The airplane was equipped with LoPresti engine cowl, propeller, and gap seal modifications.

The last annual inspection was conducted on June 21, 2002. The airplane had flown 80 hours since the last inspection and had a total time of 3,654 hours. The last maintenance performed on the airplane at 3,645 hours was on September 13, 2002, when a fuel totalizer was installed.

The engine had 1,623 hours since overhaul, and the propeller had 1,219 hours since new at the time of the accident. The maintenance records indicated the airplane was in an airworthy condition.

Meteorological information

At 1325, the recorded weather at IKV was: wind 130 degrees at 8 knots, sky clear, visibility 10 statute miles, temperature 18 degrees C, dew point 5 degrees C, altimeter 30.29.

Wreckage and impact information

The airplane wreckage was located in a harvested cornfield about 600 feet east of runway 18 at coordinates 41 degrees 41 minutes 40 seconds North latitude, and 093 degrees 33 minutes 12 seconds West longitude. The wreckage path was on a heading of about 030 degrees magnetic. The pitot tube was found at the initial point of impact. A ground scar that proceeded from the initial point of impact to the main wreckage was about 65 feet in length. The airplane's longitudinal heading after the airplane came to rest was about 140 degrees.

A ground impact crater was located about 30 feet from the initial point of impact along the wreckage path. Pieces of the engine cowling were found near the crater. A ground slash was found at the impact crater. It was about 51 inches in length measured at ground level, and it measured about 18 inches deep from ground level to the bottom of the slash mark. The north side of the ground slash had been polished smooth and exhibited a gray color on the slash's surface similar to the paint found on the propeller blades.

Post-impact fire consumed a majority of the fuselage between the engine firewall and the empennage. The mixture, throttle, and propeller controls were found in the full forward position. All flight controls and aircraft components were found at the accident site. The landing gear were found in the up position. The flap jackscrew was measured at 4 inches which indicated 20 degrees of flaps. The flap cables were attached to the flap mechanism. The flap position indicator was destroyed by fire.

The left wing was broken in two where the lower spar cap ends approximately 9 feet 6 inches from the wing root. The inboard section of wing remained attached to the fuselage. The broken outboard section of wing remained attached to the rest of the wing only by the aileron cables, and was found lying under the left horizontal stabilizer. Fire had consumed the dry bay area of the main inboard fuel tank. The left inboard fuel tank had burned through and was not intact. The left wing spars were bent up and aft where the wing was broken in two. The left wing flap had broken off and was found lying in fro