# NTSB CHI84LA219: Piper PA-30, N8205Y, Berrien Springs, MI, June 6, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: June 6, 1984, 18:14 local (22:14 UTC)
- Place: Berrien Springs, MI
- Coordinates: 41.940517, -86.340339 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.9405&lon=-86.3403&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 2 minor
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 12636
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI84LA219
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/12636/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI84LA219

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power, takeoff - roll/run
  - engine assembly - undetermined (cause)
  - aborted takeoff - not performed, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - ignition system,spark plug - dirty(foggy) (contributing factor)
  - judgment - poor, pilot in command (cause)
  - emergency procedure - disregarded, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - airspeed(vmc) - not attained, pilot in command (cause)
  - directional control - not possible, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE ACFT CRASHED SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF NEAR THE END OF THE RWY. THE SEQUENCE BEGAN WHEN THE PLT NOTICIED THAT ACFT ACCELERATION WAS 'A BIT SLOW' ON THE RWY. THEN A NOTICABLE DROP IN RPM ON THE RIGHT ENGINE OCCURRED AT ABOUT HALFWAY DOWN THE 3100 FT RWY. THE PLT DECIDED TO CONTINUE THE TAKEOFF ATTEMPT RATHER THEN ABORT. AFTER THE ACFT BECAME AIRBORNE A TURN TO THE RIGHT BEGAN IN SPITE OF THE PLTS ATTEMPTS TO FLY STRAIGHT AHEAD. THE ACFT DID NOT ATTAIN VMCA (80 KTS), IMPACTED THE GROUND AT A SHALLOW ANGLE AND SLID 400 FT TO A STOP. THE STALL WARNING HORN WAS ON FOR THE LAST 900 FT OF THE FLT. NO REASON FOR THE LOSS OF RPM WAS FOUND EXCEPT POSSIBLY THE SPARK PLUGS WHICH SHOWED SIGNS OF SOOTING.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8205Y](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8205Y-1985-01-31), registration cancelled 1985-01-31, S/N 30-1330 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-30
- Registry model: [Piper PA-30](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-30) (registry code 7103002) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 30-1330
- Airframe hours: 3590
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-320-C1A 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Thorvald W. Christiansen
- Registered owner: Berrien Cv Surgery
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, July 15, 1983, 112 hours before
- Departed: 120, BERRIEN SPRINGS, MI
- Destination: BTR, BATON ROUGE, LA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: C20, Andrews University, runway 31, 3,100 × 60 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 56; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 2,550 total, 1,050 in this make and model, 2,304 as pilot in command, 42 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 7° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 82 °F

## 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 19840606024379A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19840606024379A), Jun 6, 1984: Piper PA30, Barrien Springs, MI, Destroyed. Lost power on right engine on takeoff roll. Rotated below VMC and tried to climb. Lost control and crashed.

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.

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