# NTSB DCA85AA023: General Dynamics 240-27, N155PA, West Trenton, NJ, June 19, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Final report
- Date: June 19, 1985, 07:02 local (11:02 UTC)
- Place: West Trenton, NJ
- Location: 40.2678° N, 74.7985° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs from NTSB’s distance and direction from TRENTON MERCER (TTN), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.2678&lon=-74.7985&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 2 serious
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Major Investigations Division
- NTSB case key (mKey): 15832
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DCA85AA023
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/15832/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA85AA023

## 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
  - eng assembly,blower/impeller/integral supercharger - failure,total (cause)
  - propeller feathering - performed
- Forced landing, maneuvering - turn to landing area (emergency)
  - throttle/power control - improper use of, pilot in command (cause)
  - information unclear, company/operator management (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, maneuvering - turn to landing area (emergency)
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE COPLT BGN TAKEOFF (TKOF) WITH 2700 RPM & 52 TO 53.5' OF MANIFOLD PRESSURE (MP). WTR INJECTION WAS NOT USED ALTHO 12 GAL WAS AVAILABLE. AT 150 TO 250 FT AGL, THE L ENG LOST PWR & THE L PROP AUTOFEATHERED. THE CAPT TOOK CONTROL (CTL) & TOOK ACTION TO VERIFY L ENG FEATHERING. NEITHER PLT MOVED ANY OF THE OTHER ENG CTLS. A TURN WAS INITIATED TO RETURN TO THE ARPT, BUT THE ACFT BGN LOSING SPEED & ALT. SUBSEQUENTLY, IT CRASH LNDD IN A PARTLY WOODED AREA SHORT OF AN OPEN FLD & BURNED UNTIL FIRE FIGHTING PSNL ARRIVED. THE IMPELLER WAS DEMOLISHED BY FIRE, BUT EVIDENCE OF DEBRIS FROM THE IMPELLERWAS FND IN THE L ENG INTAKE & ON TOP OF ITS #3 & # 11 PISTON. THE COMPANY'S STATED POLICY WAS TO USE WTR (WET TKOF), EXCEPT WHEN PRECLUDED BY MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION OR LACK OF ADI FLUID; HOWEVER, 4 DISSIMILAR POWER CHARTS WERE FND IN THEACFT. TKOFF WT WAS 38,670 LBS. PERF MANUAL SHOWED ACFT CAPABLE OF 420 FPM CLB WITH 12 DEG OF FLAPS, 1 PROP FEATHERED, LNDG GEAR UP, DRY PWR (NO WTR). MAX PWR SETTING WAS 2700 RPM & 56' MP FOR DRY TKOF; 2800 RPM & 59.5' MP FOR WET TKOF.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N155PA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N155PA-2013-02-12), registration cancelled 2013-02-12, S/N 322, built 1953 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: GENERAL DYNAMICS 240-27
- Registry model: [General Dynamics 240-27](https://openairdocs.org/model/general-dynamics-240-27) (registry code 3790227) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney R-2800 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r-2800-series) (registry code 52026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 322
- Airframe hours: 16900
- Engines: P&W R-2800-CB3 reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Part 121
- Registered owner: Providence Airline Corp.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Transport
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, June 19, 1985, 128 hours before
- Departed: TTN, TRENTON, NJ
- Destination: DTW, DETROIT, MI
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: TTN, Mercer County, runway 24, 6,006 × 150 ft, concrete

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 49; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 7,000 total, 2,500 in this make and model, 124 in the last 90 days, 39 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 270° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 20,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 66 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: TTN, 1 nm away

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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