# NTSB CHI95LA283: Piper PA-31, N9123Y, Ironwood, MI, August 14, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 14, 1995, 05:20 local (09:20 UTC) - Place: Ironwood, MI - Coordinates: 46.450893, -90.150756 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.4509&lon=-90.1508&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 7 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 21, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 10000 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI95LA283 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/10000/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI95LA283 ## Probable cause the pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane during the aborted takeoff. A factor was the partial loss of engine power for an undetermined reason. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(partial) - mech failure/malf, takeoff - initial climb - 1 engine - reason for occurrence undetermined (contributing factor) - Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - aborted - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, takeoff - aborted ## Analysis THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE CONDUCTED A NORMAL TAKEOFF, AND THE LEFT ENGINE LOST POWER WHEN THE AIRPLANE WAS AT APPROXIMATELY 25 FEET ABOVE THE RUNWAY. HE 'LOWERED THE NOSE, PULLED THE POWER, AND LANDED STRAIGHT AHEAD.' THE AIRPLANE LANDED LEFT OF THE RUNWAY AND SLID THROUGH A DRAINAGE DITCH. EXAMINATION REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF PREIMPACT AIRFRAME MALFUNCTION. THE ENGINE WAS TESTED IN THE 'AS RECEIVED CONDITION' AND PRODUCED 85 PERCENT OF THE RATED POWER. ## Factual narrative On August 14, 1995, at 0520 central daylight time, a Piper PA-31, N9123Y, operated by G&W Aviation, Inc., sustained substantial damage when it departed the runway and impacted terrain during an aborted takeoff in Iron Mountain, Michigan. The commercial pilot and six passengers reported no injuries. The personal, 14 CFR Part 91 flight was planned to Chicago, Illinois. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and an IFR flight plan was filed. In his written statement, the pilot reported that he conducted a normal takeoff and the number one engine lost power when the airplane was at approximately 25 feet above the runway. He "lowered the nose, pulled the power, and landed straight ahead." The airplane landed left of the runway and slid through a drainage ditch. The nose and left main landing gear collapsed. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The wreckage was examined by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector who reported no evidence of preimpact airframe or engine malfunction. Both propellers exhibited rotational damage. When tested, the fuel system provided fuel to both engines at the firewall. The number one engine was examined and tested at Textron Lycoming, in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, on October 19, 1995. The intake manifold contained an abraded penetration approximately 1.5 inches high by 1/8 inch wide in the rear left corner, underneath the rear baffling. A significant amount of particulate ferrous metal was recovered from the oil filter. No other mechanical malfunctions were noted. A test club was installed and the engine was tested in a production test cell in the "as received condition", except for the replacement of the engine oil and oil filter. The engine operated normally during the test run and produced 85 percent of the rated power. The pilot operating handbook (POH) for the PA-31-310 specifies for a normal takeoff "At 90 MPH, CAS, rotate the aircraft and allow it to fly off." The limitations section of the POH specifies a minimum control speed of 85 miles per hour. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9123Y](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9123Y-2015-05-11), registration cancelled 2015-05-11, S/N 31-163, built 1968 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-31 - Registry model: [Piper PA-31-310](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-31-310) (registry code 7103102) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming TI0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (registry code 41533, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 31-163 - Airframe hours: 7301 - Engines: LYCOMING TIO-540-A1A 310 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: G & W Aviation - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, January 27, 1995, 102 hours before - Destination: PEK, CHICAGO, IL - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: IWD, Gogebic County, runway 27, 6,501 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 27; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 1,161 total, 120 in this make and model, 1,075 as pilot in command, 226 in the last 90 days, 65 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark - Wind: calm - Visibility: 5 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 1,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 84 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg ## 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 19950814030469A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950814030469A), Aug 14, 1995: Piper PA31310, Ironwood, MI, Substantial damage. Lost left engine after liftoff. Closed good engine. Landed off runway. Hit ditch. Engine tested normal pro accident (-23) on August 14, 1995, at 0520 EST, a… 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.