- Date
- January 6, 2011, 14:30 local (19:30 UTC)
- Place
- Thomaston, GA
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N5706DPiper PA-22-150
- Defining event
- Approach-VFR go-around: Loss of engine power (partial)
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report June 8, 2011
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties
- FAA/FSDO
- FAA report
- 20110106002789A
- Case key
- 78128
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The mechanic's failure to install a cotter retaining pin in the throttle arm retaining nut resulting in excessive throttle play and loss of engine power control.
Findings · 2
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
According to the pilot, the airplane had returned to service after being restored by an airframe and powerplant mechanic with inspection authorization. The pilot performed several takeoffs and landings prior to the accident flight, and noted that the airplane seemed to operate normally. The pilot departed to another airport where he completed a simulated instrument approach to about 50 feet above the runway. He then commenced a go-around over the departure end of the runway with the airplane about 300 feet above the ground. The engine experienced a partial loss of power and the pilot maneuvered the airplane a hay field, where he performed a forced landing. During the landing roll, the horizontal stabilizer struck a hay bale resulting in substantial damage to the empennage. A postaccident examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that a cotter pin was not installed on the throttle arm retaining nut. The throttle arm retaining nut was finger tight and the throttle arm was loose, which resulted in excessive play in the throttle linkage.
Factual narrative
According to the pilot, the airplane had returned to service after being restored by a licensed airframe and powerplant mechanic with inspection authorization. The pilot performed several takeoffs and landings prior to the accident flight, and the airplane seemed normal. The pilot subsequently took off again and flew to another airport where he completed a simulated instrument approach to about 50 feet above the runway. He then commenced a go around and was over the departure end of the runway, about 300 feet above the ground, when the engine had a partial power loss. The pilot maneuvered the airplane to a forced landing in a hay field, and during the landing roll, the horizontal stabilizer struck a hay bale resulting in substantial damage to the empennage. A subsequent examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that a cotter pin was not installed on the throttle arm retaining nut. The throttle arm retaining nut was finger tight and the throttle arm was loose.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N5706D
- Reported as
- Piper PA-22-150
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 22-4402
- Airframe hours
- 3,147
- Engine
- Lycoming 0-320 SERIES, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Reese Lonnie E
- Registered owner
- Reese Lonnie E
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · January 1, 2011 · 1 hours before
- Departed
- OPN · Thomaston, GA
- Destination
- 5A9 · Warm Springs, GA
- Airport
- OPN · Thomaston-Upson County Airport, runway 30, 6,350 × 100 ft, asphalt
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 67
- Injuries
- None
- Certificates
- Airline transport, Flight engineer
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- September 2, 2010
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 25,000 total · 35 in this make and model · 24,000 as pilot in command · 45 in the last 90 days · 15 in the last 30 days · 5 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 280° at 10 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 48 °F, dew point 34 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.70 inHg
- Observed at
- OPN, 1 nm away
Docket · 4
The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 29, 2011, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 847 KB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.