# NTSB ERA09LA158: Piper PA-30, N10JR, Lakeville, NY, February 8, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 8, 2009, 11:15 local (16:15 UTC) - Place: Lakeville, NY - Coordinates: 42.799999, -77.699996 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.8000&lon=-77.7000&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff-rejected takeoff: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 22, 2010 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 73335 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA09LA158 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/73335/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=73335 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA09LA158 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control following a loss of engine power on the left engine for undetermined reasons. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Aircraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01050000): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Failure; cases with it: [Piper PA-30, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01050000/cases.md?model=7103002), [All aircraft, 151 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01050000/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-30, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md?model=7103002), [All aircraft, 1,269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md) - [Action: lack of action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-30, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md?model=7103002), [All aircraft, 792 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342); cases with it: [Piper PA-30, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=7103002), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md) - [Takeoff-rejected takeoff: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-30, 24 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=7103002), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper PA-30, 37 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7103002), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot initially reported that he was attempting to take off from a soft turf runway. About 30 feet above ground level, the left engine lost power, restarted on its own, and then lost power again. The airplane then contacted the runway, damaging both wings and the left main and nose landing gears. In a written statement, the pilot stated that he "was under pressure to get the airplane off (away) from that field" and that he could feel the landing gear "sinking into the frost." Examination of the airplane revealed no evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunction and the reason for loss of engine power on the left engine could not be determined. ## Factual narrative On February 8, 2009, about 1115 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-30, N10JR, was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain shortly after takeoff from Lakeville Airport (NY15), Lakeville, New York. The certificated commercial pilot received no injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The flight was operated as a personal flight under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91, and was originating at the time of the accident. The pilot reported to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector on scene that he had taxied the airplane to the end of runway 19, a 2,800-foot-long turf runway. He then completed the takeoff roll, climbing to an approximate altitude of 30 feet above ground level. The left engine started to run rough and the pilot attempted to land the airplane back on the runway. The airplane contacted the runway, damaging both wings and collapsed the nose and left main landing gear. In a written statement to the NTSB, the pilot stated that he was taxiing the airplane and "could feel the gear sinking into the frost." He added power and the "aircraft jumped into the air," when the left engine lost power, restarted on its own, "died again," and then impacted the turf runway. He further stated that he "was under pressure to get the plane off (away) from that airfield." Examination of the airplane by an FAA inspector revealed that the airplane impacted the ground, damaging the wings, the nose gear, and the left main landing gear. The airframe and flight control system components revealed no evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunction and the reason for loss of engine power could not be determined. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N10JR](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N10JR-2012-08-30), registration cancelled 2012-08-30, S/N 30-39, built 1963 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-30 - Registry model: [Piper PA-30](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-30) (registry code 7103002) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-320-series) (registry code 41509, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 30-39 - Airframe hours: 3569 - Engines: Lycoming IO-320-B1A 160 horsepower reciprocating; Lycoming IO-320-B1A 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 7, 2008, 1 hours before - Departed: NY15, Lakeville, NY - Destination: NY15, Lakeville, NY - Airport: NY15, Lakeville Airport, runway 19, 2,800 × 60 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 76; injuries: none; private, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review August 16, 2008; seat: left; flight hours: 3,716 total, 3,676 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 300° at 18 knots, gusting 24 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 3,000 ft broken - Temperature: 37 °F, dew point 25 °F - Altimeter: 30.19 inHg - Observed at: ROC, 17 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 20090208001829A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090208001829A), Feb 8, 2009: Piper PA30, Livonia, NY, Substantial damage. On February 8, 2009 at approximately 1030 local time, a Piper PA-30, N10JR, attempted a takeoff from the grass strip at hannas Acres airport (D75) in Livonia,… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 5, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=73335. 216 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 176 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40325344&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Memorandum For Record: Phone Call With FAA (item 2, .PDF, 28 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40325395&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20For%20Record%3A%20Phone%20Call%20With%20FAA-Master.PDF - Rochester Weather (item 3, .PDF, 11 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40325345&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Rochester%20Weather-Master.PDF 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.