# NTSB DEN03LA123: Piper PA-46-310P, N4386G, Englewood, CO, July 6, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 6, 2003, 10:52 local (16:52 UTC) - Place: Englewood, CO - Coordinates: 39.567222, -104.849998 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.5672&lon=-104.8500&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 December 30, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 57411 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN03LA123 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/57411/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN03LA123 ## Probable cause the pilot's improper flare which resulted in a hard landing. Contributing factors were the out-of-calibration waste gate actuator, a blown tire, and the airport sign. ## 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 - exhaust system,wastegate - out of calibration (contributing factor) - Hard landing, takeoff - aborted - precautionary landing - performed, pilot in command - remedial action - improper, pilot in command (contributing factor) - Loss of control - on ground/water, takeoff - aborted - directional control - diminished (cause) - landing gear,tire - burst (contributing factor) - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - object - airport sign/marker (contributing factor) ## Analysis The pilot was cleared for takeoff and was instructed to maintain runway heading. The pilot said he aborted the takeoff after lifting off "due to poor airplane performance" and "landed very hard." The left main tire blew out and the airplane departed the left side of the runway and struck a taxiway sign. The engine was later functionally tested. Manifold pressure was found to be "3 [inches] low at full takeoff power," and the engine was producing "approximately 95-97 [per cent] full power at the takeoff setting." An adjustment to the wastegate actuator raised the manifold pressure to the correct setting. ## Factual narrative On July 6, 2003, at 1052 mountain daylight time, a Piper PA-46-310P, N4386G, was substantially damaged when it ran off the side of the runway during takeoff at Centennial Airport, Englewood, Colorado. The private pilot and his two passengers were not injured. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and an instrument flight plan had been filed for the cross-country flight being operated under Title 14 CFR Part 91. The flight was originating at the time of the accident. The pilot was cleared for takeoff on runway 17L and was instructed to maintain runway heading. In his accident report, the pilot said that after lifting off, he aborted the takeoff "due to poor airplane performance" and "landed very hard." The left main tire blew out and the airplane departed the left side of the runway and struck a taxiway sign. The left wing was bent, the tire was blown out, and the landing gear door was damaged. According to a report submitted by Straight Flight, a Centennial Airport repair facility, the engine was functionally tested and the manifold pressure was found to be "3 [inches] low at full takeoff power," and the engine was producing "approximately 95-97 [per cent] full power at the takeoff setting." An adjustment to the wastegate actuator raised the manifold pressure to the correct setting. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4386G](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4386G-2018-01-19), registration cancelled 2018-01-19, S/N 46-8508037, built 1985 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-46-310P - Registry model: [Piper PA-46-310P](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-46-310p) (registry code 7104605) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-520-series) (registry code 17040, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 46-8508037 - Airframe hours: 1711 - Engines: Continental TSIO-520 310 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 17, 2003, 96 hours before - Departed: APA, Englewood, CO - Destination: ANE, MINNEAPOLIS, MN - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: APA, Centennial, runway 17L, 12,000 × 150 ft, concrete ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 49; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review June 26, 2003; seat: left; flight hours: 1,883 total, 252 in this make and model, 1,883 as pilot in command, 75 in the last 90 days, 50 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 80° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 86 °F, dew point 34 °F - Altimeter: 30.03 inHg - Observed at: APA ## 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 20030706015859A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030706015859A), Jul 6, 2003: Piper PA46310P, Denver, CO, Substantial damage. (-23) On take off, pilot jensen noticed that the aircraft was not developing enough power and he elected to abort the take off. The left main tire blew and the… ## Other investigations on N4386G (1) 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. - [NTSB CHI05FA162](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI05FA162), Jul 4, 2005: Piper PA-46-310P (N4386G), Grand Rapids, MN, destroyed, 1 fatal. Probable cause: An observed loss of engine power due to the bound/jammed turbocharger wastegate during takeoff, the pilot not maintaining airplane control, and the stall he inadvertently encountered. A factor was… 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.