# NTSB LAX87LA316: Piper PA-30-160, N8441, Condord, CA, August 23, 1987 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 23, 1987, 15:30 local (22:30 UTC) - Place: Condord, CA - Location: 38.0026° N, 122.0652° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs from NTSB’s distance and direction from BUCHANAN FLD (CCR), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.0026&lon=-122.0652&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 4 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 26, 1989 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 25674 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX87LA316 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/25674/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX87LA316 ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(partial) - nonmechanical, takeoff - initial climb - fluid,fuel - water (cause) - aircraft preflight - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - maintenance,compliance with ad - disregarded, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown - emergency procedure - improper, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis AFTER AN ANNUAL INSPECTION THE ACFT WAS PREPARED FOR A TEST FLIGHT. THE PILOT LOADED 3 PASSENGERS AND BEGAN THE RUN-UP CHECKS. DURING RUN-UP THE LEFT ENGINE RAN ROUGH. AFTER THE ROUGHNESS CLEARED THE PILOT INITIATED THE TAKEOFF. AS THE ACFT ACCELERATED DOWN THE RWY THE LEFT ENGINE RAN ROUGH AGAIN AND THE TAKEOFF WAS ABORTED. THE PILOT MADE ANOTHER RUN-UP CHECK AND ANOTHER TAKEOFF ATTEMPT WAS MADE WITHOUT INCIDENT. AS THE AIRCRAFT CLIMBED THRU 300 FEET MSL THE RT ENGINE BEGAN TO SPUTTER. THE CLIMB WAS CONTINUED TO 500 FEET MSL BEFORE THE POWER FROM THE RIGHT ENGINE WAS REDUCED AND THE PILOT SHUT THE ENGINE DOWN AND FEATHERED THE PROPELLER. THE ACFT DESCENDED AS THE PILOT INITIATED A TURN TOWARDS THE AIRPORT AND IMPACTED THE MARSHY GROUND 2.75 MILES FROM THE AIRPORT. POST ACC EXAM REVEALED WATER AND RUST PARTICILES ON THE INJECTOR DIAPHRAGM AND ON THE FUEL INLET SCREEN. AN AD WAS ISSUED ON THIS ACFT REQUIRING DAILY AND POST REFUELING CHECKS OF THE FUEL SYS BY DRAINING TO AVOID THE ACCUMULATION OF WATER AND SEDIMENT. ## Aircraft - Registration: N8441 (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-30-160 - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 30921 - Airframe hours: 6600 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-320-B1A 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 91 - Registered owner: James Warnick - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 21, 1987 - Departed: CCR, CONCORD, CA - Airport: CCR, Buchanan Fld, runway 32, 4,601 × 150 ft, concrete ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 50; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 2,440 total, 440 in this make and model, 2,333 as pilot in command, 5 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 310° at 12 knots - Visibility: 25 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: CCR 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.