GAA19CA456

NTSB accident investigation · Piper PA46 · Sparta, TN · July 27, 2019

Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal report
Date
July 27, 2019, 10:30 local (15:30 UTC)
Place
Sparta, TN
Injuries
7 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Takeoff
Aircraft
N12KWPiper PA46
Defining event
Takeoff: Loss of control on ground
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report December 2, 2019
Report
Approved by Office Director
NTSB office
General Aviation Accidents
Parties
FAA
FAA report
20190727012699A
Case key
99941

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain the runway heading during an aborted takeoff, which resulted in a runway excursion and collision with a sign and terrain. Contributing to the need to abort the takeoff was the pilot's improper decision to take off with the airplane over its maximum gross takeoff weight.

Findings · 6

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.

Performance/control parameters: heading/courseAircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintainedPiper PA 46-350P: 1 caseAll aircraft: 82 casesProbable cause
Use of equip/info: aircraft controlPersonnel issues › Task performance · PilotPiper PA 46-350P: 40 casesAll aircraft: 9,295 casesProbable cause
Aircraft capability: maximum weightAircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Capability exceededPiper PA 46-350P: 4 casesAll aircraft: 152 casesProbable cause
Aircraft capability: cG/weight distributionAircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Capability exceededPiper PA 46-350P: 3 casesAll aircraft: 66 cases
Object/animal/substance: sign/markerEnvironmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operationPiper PA 46-350P: 3 casesAll aircraft: 214 cases

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 reported that, during takeoff, everything appeared "good" until he saw a yellow warning light illuminate. He remembered seeing the letters "hydr…" on the light and became concerned about the landing gear. He decided to abort the takeoff and reduced power and held back pressure on the yoke. He added that he intentionally "let" the airplane go left over grass. As the airplane decelerated, he saw a taxiway sign ahead, the stall warning horn sounded, and the airplane settled back onto the ground on the taxiway sign. The pilot then pulled the yoke full aft and added right brake, and the airplane impacted a ditch. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector corroborated the pilot's statement. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The FAA inspector reported that, during postaccident examination, no warning lights were noted. The pilot reported that, before the flight, he performed weight and balance calculations. He added that the airplane was more than 300 lbs over the maximum allowable gross weight and was "heavy aft." He reported that he had seven people on board the six-seat airplane; six people were sitting in a seat, and one person was sitting on the floor.

Factual narrative

The pilot reported that, during takeoff, everything appeared "good" and then he saw a yellow warning light illuminate. He remembered seeing the letters "hydr…" on the light and became concerned about the landing gear. He decided to abort the takeoff and reduced power and held back pressure on the yoke but the airplane became airborne momentarily. He intentionally "let" the airplane go left over the grass. As the airplane decelerated, he saw a taxiway sign ahead, the stall warning horn sounded, and the airplane settled back onto the ground on the taxiway sign. He pulled the yoke full aft, added right brake, and the airplane impacted a ditch. The pilot reported that before the flight he performed weight and balance calculation. He added that the airplane was in excess of 300 lbs. over the maximum gross weight and was "heavy aft." He reported that he had 7 persons on board the 6-seat airplane, with a person sitting in each seat and one additional sitting on the floor. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing. The Federal Aviation Administration inspector reported that evidence and testimony showed that, during the takeoff, the left wing and nose wheel lifted, and the pilot lost directional control. The airplane veered off the runway, collided with a sign, crossed a taxiway and a ditch, and stopped in front of the terminal parking area. He added that, during a postaccident examination, no warning lights were noted. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Aircraft

Registration
N12KW
Reported as
Piper PA46 (350P)
Category
Airplane
Serial number
4636255
Built
2000
Engine
Lycoming TIO-540, 310 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Business · Part 91
Operator
Allied Moulded Products, Inc.
Registered owner
Allied Moulded Products, Inc.
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Departed
SRB · Sparta, TN
Airport
SRB · Upper Cumberland Rgnl, runway 22, 6,704 × 100 ft, asphalt
Equipment
Electronic multifunction display, Electronic primary flight display, Auto-pilot, ADS-B, Stall warning system, Onboard weather

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
33
Injuries
None
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Medical
Class 3, Without waivers/limitations
Last flight review
April 1, 2019
Seat
Left
Restraint
3-point
Flight hours
400 total · 5 in this make and model · 340 as pilot in command · 52 in the last 90 days · 19 in the last 30 days · 5 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
190° at 6 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
82 °F, dew point 66 °F
Altimeter
30.31 inHg
Observed at
KSRB

Docket · 4

The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 3, 2019, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 5.0 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.