ERA13LA099

NTSB accident investigation · Piper PA-28RT-201T · Boca Raton, FL · December 23, 2012

Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
December 23, 2012, 13:15 local (18:15 UTC)
Place
Boca Raton, FL
Injuries
2 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Initial climb
Aircraft
N4340GPiper PA-28RT-201T
Defining event
Initial climb: Loss of engine power (total)
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report August 11, 2015
Report
Approved by Office Director
NTSB office
Eastern Region Aviation
Parties
FAA/FSDO
FAA report
20121223028589A
Case key
85903

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 pilot's improper landing flare after a loss of engine power shortly after takeoff, which resulted in a hard landing. The reason for the loss of engine power could not be determined based on the available information.

Findings · 4

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.

Use of equip/info: aircraft controlPersonnel issues › Task performance · PilotPiper PA-28RT-201T: 5 casesAll aircraft: 9,295 casesProbable cause
Not determinedNot determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determinedPiper PA-28RT-201T: 3 casesAll aircraft: 2,247 casesProbable cause
Action: incorrect action performancePersonnel issues › Action/decision · PilotPiper PA-28RT-201T: 1 caseAll aircraft: 1,386 casesProbable cause
Performance/control parameters: landing flareAircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Incorrect use/operationPiper PA-28RT-201T: 1 caseAll aircraft: 1,285 casesProbable cause

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

The pilot stated that a pretakeoff engine run-up revealed no anomalies and that he then initiated a takeoff. Shortly after rotation, the pilot selected the landing gear handle to the "up" position. When the airplane reached an altitude of about 100 ft above ground level, the engine suddenly "stopped without sputtering," and the airplane entered an aerodynamic stall. The pilot pitched the airplane's nose down and subsequently attempted to flare the airplane for landing; the airplane subsequently touched down on all three landing gear, which were in transition. The left main and nose landing gears collapsed, and the airplane slid off the left side of the runway, which resulted in substantial damage to both wings. Neither the engine nor the fuel system were examined following the accident, and the reason for the loss of engine power could not be determined.

Factual narrative

On December 23, 2012, about 1315 eastern standard time, a Piper PA28RT-201T, N4340G, was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a total loss of engine power on takeoff at Boca Raton Airport (BCT), Boca Raton, Florida. The private pilot and passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight, which was conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The pilot stated that a pre-takeoff engine run-up revealed no anomalies, and he initiated a takeoff from runway 05. Shortly after rotation, he raised the airplane's landing gear. At an altitude about 100 feet above ground level, the engine suddenly "stopped without sputtering," and the airplane began to experience an aerodynamic stall. The pilot pitched the airplane's nose down, and subsequently attempted to flare the airplane for landing, and the airplane touched down on all three landing gear. The left main and nose landing gear collapsed, and the airplane slid off the left side of the runway, resulting in substantial damage to both wings. No examination of the engine or fuel system was conducted following the accident, and the reason for the loss of engine power could not be determined. The pilot held a private pilot certificate with ratings for airplane single-engine land and instrument airplane. The pilot reported 4,100 total flight hours of flight experience, of which 3,900 hours were in the accident make and model. His most recent FAA third-class medical certificate was issued in May 2011. The airplane was manufactured in 1984 and was equipped with a Continental Motors TSIO-360 series, 201 hp, turbocharged reciprocating engine. Its most recent annual inspection was completed on January 15, 2012. The engine had accumulated about 100 hours since its most recent overhaul. The airplane had accumulated 4,100 total hours in service at the time of the accident. The 1253 weather observation at Pompano Beach Airpark (PMP), Pompano Beach, Florida, located about 8 nautical miles south of the accident site, included wind from 110 degrees at 9 knots, 10 statute miles visibility, clear skies, temperature 21 degrees C, dew point 11 degrees C, and an altimeter setting of 30.21 inches of mercury.

Aircraft

Registration
N4340G
Reported as
Piper PA-28RT-201T
Category
Airplane
Serial number
28R-8431015
Built
1984
Airframe hours
4,100
Engine
Cont Motor TSIO-360 SER, 201 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · January 15, 2012 · 100 hours before
Departed
BCT · Boca Raton, FL
Destination
2IS · Clewiston, FL
Airport
BCT · Boca Raton Airport, runway 05, 6,276 × 150 ft, asphalt
Equipment
Stall warning system

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
70
Injuries
None
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 3, Without waivers/limitations
Last flight review
October 9, 2011
Seat
Left
Restraint
3-point
Flight hours
4,100 total · 3,900 in this make and model · 4,100 as pilot in command · 50 in the last 90 days · 15 in the last 30 days

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
110° at 9 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
72 °F, dew point 52 °F
Altimeter
30.18 inHg
Observed at
PMP, 8 nm away

Docket · 3

The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 25, 2015, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 1.1 MB 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.