MIA02LA019

NTSB accident investigation · Piper PA-28-181 · Deland, FL · November 19, 2001

Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
November 18, 2001, 23:20 local (Nov 19, 2001, 04:20 UTC)
Place
Deland, FL
Injuries
2 minor
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Initial climb
Aircraft
N85TTPiper PA-28-181
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Night
Status
Completed · report February 20, 2002
Report
Approved by Office Director
Parties
FAA FSDO
Case key
53792

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 loss of engine power during takeoff/initial climb due to undetermined reasons.

Sequence of events

NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.

Loss of engine powerTakeoff - initial climb
Reason for occurrence undeterminedCause
Forced landingEmergency landing after takeoff
On ground/water collision with objectLanding - roll
Object - tree(s)

Analysis

The pilot stated that he was departing on runway 5, and was at an altitude of about 200 feet when the engine suddenly ceased operating for a short period of time. The pilot further stated that the engine suddenly restarted automatically, and then ceased operating again for a second time. He said the engine did not "spit or sputter", but that both times it ceased operating, it happened suddenly and completely. The aircraft crashed in a wooded area, about 800 yards east of the airport, incurring substantial damage. An FAA licensed mechanic, with inspection authorization, conducted a detailed postaccident examination, and also tested the accident aircraft engine on a test cell, and no anomalies were noted.

Factual narrative

On November 18, 2001, about 2320 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-28-181, N85TT, registered to, and operated by Practical Quality Services Inc., as a Title 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, crashed during takeoff/initial climb from Deland Municipal Airport, Deland, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and an instrument flight rules flight plan was filed. The private-rated pilot and one passenger received minor injuries, and the aircraft incurred substantial damage. The flight as originating at the time of the accident.

The pilot stated that he was departing on runway 5, and was at an altitude of about 200 feet when the engine suddenly ceased operating for a short period of time. The pilot further stated that the engine suddenly restarted automatically, and then ceased operating again for a second time. He said the engine did not "spit or sputter", but that both times it ceased operating it was sudden and complete. He further stated that after the engine ceased operating the aircraft was descending, and at the altitude he was at, he only had time to check and verify that the throttles and mixture controls were full forward, and could do nothing else in the way of emergency procedures. The aircraft crashed in a wooded area, about 800 yards east of the airport, incurring substantial damage.

An FAA licensed mechanic, with inspection authorization, conducted a detailed postaccident examination, and also tested the accident aircraft engine on a test cell, and no anomalies were noted.

Aircraft

Registration
N85TT
Reported as
Piper PA-28-181
Category
Airplane
Serial number
28-7990348
Airframe hours
3,813
Engine
Textron Lyc. O-360-A4M, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Registered owner
Practical Quality Services Inc.,
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · January 12, 2001 · 175 hours before
Departed
DED · Deland, FL
Destination
COI · Merrit Island, FL
Flight plan
IFR
Airport
DED · Deland Municipal Airport

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
50
Injuries
Minor
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
Last flight review
January 2, 2000
Seat
Left
Flight hours
705 total · 705 in this make and model · 622 as pilot in command · 65 in the last 90 days · 17 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Night
Wind
340° at 5 knots
Visibility
5 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
68 °F, dew point 66 °F
Altimeter
30.20 inHg
Observed at
DAB, 20 nm away