# NTSB CHI98LA257: Piper PA-28-140, N54R, Napoleon, MI, July 18, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 18, 1998, 16:07 local (20:07 UTC) - Place: Napoleon, MI - Coordinates: 42.000213, -83.940757 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.0002&lon=-83.9408&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 16, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 43088 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI98LA257 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/43088/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI98LA257 ## Probable cause the pilot inadequate pre-flight planning. Factors in this accident were the airplane's weight and balance limitations had been exceeded by the pilot and an improper top overhaul of the engine's cylinder by the mechanic. ## 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 - engine assembly,cylinder - low compression - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - engine assembly,valve,exhaust - worn - maintenance,top overhaul - improper, company maintenance personnel (contributing factor) - engine assembly,valve,intake - worn - In flight collision with object, takeoff - initial climb - object - antenna - aircraft weight and balance - exceeded, pilot in command (contributing factor) - object - fence - object - sign - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - roadway/highway ## Analysis The pilot said the airplane used about 2/3 of the 2,550-foot runway before rotating for liftoff. He said the airplane felt '...sluggish...' as it passed over the departure runway's threshold. During the initial climb out the airplane's left wing struck an antenna that was attached to a building. The airplane descended below power lines and collided with a fence and road sign before striking the ground. The on-scene investigation revealed the airplane was 100-pounds over its maximum gross takeoff weight. The engine had received a top overhaul 2 days before the accident. The engine examination revealed low compression on the number 3 cylinder. Further examination of this cylinder showed its exhaust and intake valve heads were below the manufacturer's minimum diameter. The valve heads and seats were not ground to the manufacturer's specification and the valve stem diameter was below the manufacturer's size. ## Factual narrative On July 18, 1998, at 1607 eastern daylight time (edt), a Piper PA-28-140, N54R, piloted by a private pilot, was destroyed during a collision with an antenna, fence, road sign, ground and subsequent post impact fire while on initial climb out from takeoff on runway 15 (2,550' X 100' dry sod) at the Napoleon Airport, Napoleon, Michigan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal 14 CFR Part 91 flight was not operating on a flight plan. The pilot and two passengers reported no injuries. The flight departed Napoleon, Michigan, at 1605 edt. According to the pilot's written statement he said he ran the engine up to 2,500 RPM with the brakes set before beginning the takeoff. His written statement and drawing show the airplane did not lift off the runway until its takeoff roll had used up about 2/3 of the runway before it rotated for liftoff and initial climb. He said the airplane was climbing at 70 to 75 knots indicated airspeed. The pilot said the airplane "...felt sluggish..." as it passed over the departure end of the runway. The airplane's left wing struck an antenna that was attached to a livestock building shortly after the airplane's stall warning horn activated. The airplane descended under powerlines, struck a fence and road sign and the ground. The airplane's left wing separated from the fuselage and caught fire as it and the airplane collided with a highway and slid to a stop. The on-scene investigation revealed that the airplane was 100 pounds overweight at takeoff. The engine examination revealed mechanical continuity with both magnetos capable of producing sparks during hand rotation. Thumb compression was found on 3 of the 4 cylinders. The number 3 cylinder had low thumb compression. Compression on all 4 cylinders was checked using a pressure gauge. Number 1 cylinder had 76/80 pounds per square inch (psi) of pressure, number 2 cylinder had 75/80 psi, number 3 had 10/80 psi, and number 4 cylinder had 75/80 psi. Further examination of the number 3 cylinder found that the air escaped from the intake and exhaust valves when they were closed. The valve heads were below the manufacturer's minimum diameter. The valve head edge angle and seats were not ground to the manufacturer's required angle and the valve stem diameter was below the manufacturer's minimum size. Engine maintenance records showed it had been factory overhauled at tachometer time of 1,957.2 hours on August 25, 1992. These records showed it received a top overhaul on July 16, 1998, when it had a total time since overhaul of 272.3 hours. The records showed that the engine's number 1 cylinder had low compression due to "...broken compression ring and worn ring grooves." The records show that all 4 cylinders were removed from the engine. According to the records the mechanic found all cylinders "...out of limits (bore worn at top of cylinder)." The maintenance records are appended to this report. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N54R](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N54R-1999-11-05), registration cancelled 1999-11-05, S/N 28-7725135 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-28-140 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-140](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-140) (registry code 7102802) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-1725135 - Airframe hours: 7396 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Shamrock Aviation Ltd. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 5, 1998, 3 hours before - Departed: 3NP - Destination: 3NP ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 42; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 181 total, 45 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 210° at 5 knots - Visibility: 15 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: JXN, 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 19980718046699A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980718046699A), Jul 18, 1998: Piper PA28140, Napoleon, MI, No damage. (-23) On take off from napolean airport, napolean, Michigan at 1600L on 07/18/98, aircraft number 54R, a Piper PA-28-140 lost power striking an antenna, fence… 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.