# NTSB CHI89LA024: Piper PA-31-350, N6292, Indianapolis, IN, November 14, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: November 14, 1988, 08:03 local (13:03 UTC)
- Place: Indianapolis, IN
- Coordinates: 39.870956, -86.010337 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.8710&lon=-86.0103&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 4 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report November 28, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 14311
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI89LA024
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/14311/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI89LA024

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power, takeoff - initial climb
  - 1 engine
  - engine assembly,cylinder - low compression (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, takeoff - aborted
  - planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - aborted takeoff - delayed, pilot in command (cause)
  - terrain condition - high obstruction(s) (contributing factor)
  - maneuver - initiated
  - stall/mush - inadvertent, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- On ground/water collision with object, takeoff - aborted
  - object - fence (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE PLT RPRTD THAT IMMEDIATELY AFTER ROTATION & DRG THE INITIAL CLIMB, THE RGT ENG BEGAN TO BACKFIRE & RUN ROUGH. WHEN THE ENG CONTD TO RUN ROUGH IN SPITE OF ATTEMPTS TO SMOOTH IT OUT, THE PLT ELECTED TO ABORT THE TAKEOFF. AT THAT TIME, THE ACFT WAS AT ABOUT 25' ABOVE THE GROUND. SEEING OBSTACLES AHEAD, THE PLT ELECTED TO BANK THE ACFT TO THE RGT TO OBTAIN ADDITIONAL SPACE. HOWEVER, THE ACFT CONTACTED THE GROUND RGT WING 1ST. SUBSEQUENTLY, IT TUMBLED SIDEWAYS & SLID THRU A FENCE BEFORE STOPPING ON AN ACCESS ROAD. A POST-ACDNT EXAM & OPNL CHECK OF THE ENG FAILED TO DUPLICATE THE POWER LOSS AS DESCRIBED BY THE PLT. NO PRE-ACDNT MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION WAS VERIFIED EXCEPT FOR LOW COMPRESSION (30 OVER 80 PSI) OF THE #1 & #5 CYLINDERS ON THE RGT ENG.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6292](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6292-1990-02-13), registration cancelled 1990-02-13, S/N 317612094 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-31-350
- Registry model: [Piper PA-31-325](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-31-325) (registry code 7103105) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 31-7612094
- Airframe hours: 2773
- Engines: LYCOMING TIO-540-F2BD 350 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Operator: Jordan Paper Products, Inc.
- Registered owner: Jordan Paper Products Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, June 30, 1988, 90 hours before
- Departed: I14
- Destination: 3WE, ST LOUIS, MO
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: I14, Eagle Creek Airpark, runway 21, 4,200 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 66; airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 27,000 total, 1,250 in this make and model, 25,000 as pilot in command, 100 in the last 90 days, 60 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 230° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 48 °F, dew point 43 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: IND, 7 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 19881114050579A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19881114050579A), Nov 14, 1988: Piper PA31325, Indianapolis, IN, Substantial damage. Reported right engine backfired on liftoff,aborted,dragged a wing and cartwheeled into fence. Exhaust valve leakage

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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