# NTSB ERA23LA055: Piper PA-28-140, N8543E, Allentown, PA, November 9, 2022

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: November 9, 2022, 11:25, time zone not recorded
- Place: Allentown, PA
- Coordinates: 40.64828, -75.440586 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.6483&lon=-75.4406&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Standing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/150) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Standing-engine(s) operating: AC/prop/rotor contact w person](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/081)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA - Allentown FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 106274
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA23LA055
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/106274/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106274
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23LA055

## Probable cause

The flight instructor’s decision to remove the nosewheel chock while the engine was still operating.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-140, 43 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=7102802), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Standing-engine(s) operating: AC/prop/rotor contact w person](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/081) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-140, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/081/sequence.md?model=7102802), [All aircraft, 61 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/081/sequence.md)

## Analysis

After engine start, the student pilot and the flight instructor realized that the airplane’s nosewheel chock was still in place. The flight instructor decided to deplane to remove the chock without shutting down the engine. After removing the chock, the flight instructor moved to signal the student pilot that the chock was removed. In the process, the flight instructor made physical contact with the spinning propellor, resulting in serious injury. The flight instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8543E](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8543E), registered now, S/N 28-7625140, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-140
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-140](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-140) (registry code 7102802) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28-7625140
- Year built: 1976
- Airframe hours: 13975
- Engines: Lycoming O-320-E2A 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: No damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Ace Pilot Training Inc
- Registered owner: Ace Pilot Training Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility
- Last inspection: Annual, September 5, 2022, 81 hours before
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: ABE, Lehigh Valley International Airport
- Equipment: ADS-B, Stall warning system

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 23; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 31 total, 31 in this make and model, 0 as pilot in command, 9 in the last 90 days, 2.1 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours
- Flight instructor; age 21; injuries: serious; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 549.8 total, 110.4 in this make and model, 460.1 as pilot in command, 185.2 in the last 90 days, 58.2 in the last 30 days, 2.3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 46 °F, dew point 25 °F
- Altimeter: 30.65 inHg
- Observed at: ABE
- METAR: KABE 091551Z 00000KT 10SM CLR 08/M04 A3065 RMK AO2 SLP382 T00831044


## 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 20221109017419A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20221109017419A), Nov 9, 2022: Piper PA-28, Allentown, PA, No damage. Allentown, PA (abe): [privacy data omitted], PA28, while parked on the ramp at hangar 9 prior to departure with the engine running, struck an individual with…

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 20, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106274. 16.8 MB in all.

- Aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 - pilot (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 8.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14819053&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Nikitta%20final-comp_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 - operator (item 2, PDF, 11 pages, 8.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14819099&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20ace%20pilot%20final-comp_Redacted-Rel.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.

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