# NTSB MIA90FA027: Piper PA-23-250, N15LH, Pembroke Pines, FL, November 15, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: November 15, 1989, 13:04 local (18:04 UTC)
- Place: Pembroke Pines, FL
- Coordinates: 25.989418, -80.280891 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=25.9894&lon=-80.2809&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report September 5, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 32535
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA90FA027
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/32535/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA90FA027

## Probable cause

INADEQUATE ANNUAL INSPECTION BY OTHER MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL AND INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT INSPECTION BY THE PILOT, WHICH RESULTED IN FAILURE TO DETECT WATER AND CONTAMINATION (RESIDUE) IN THE FUEL.  CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE: FAILURE OF THE PLT TO FEATHER THE PROPELLERS AND A FENCE IN THE EMERGENCY LANDING AREA.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, takeoff - initial climb
  - all engines
  - maintenance,annual inspection - inadequate, other maintenance personnel (cause)
  - aircraft preflight - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - fluid,fuel - water (cause)
  - fluid,fuel - contamination (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
  - propeller feathering - not performed, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- On ground/water collision with object, landing
  - object - fence (contributing factor)

## Analysis

AFTER TAKEOFF, THE ACFT WAS MANEUVERED DOWNWIND ABOUT 1/2 MI SOUTH OF THE ARPT AT APRX 1000' AGL. WHEN THE ACFT WAS ABEAM MID-FIELD, THE PLT REQUESTED CLNC TO LAND BACK ON THE ARPT. HE WAS CLRD FOR RIGHT TRAFFIC TO LAND ON RWY 9R & WAS ASKED IF HE HAD ANY DIFFICULTIES. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE PLT REPLIED THAT BOTH ENGS HAD LOST POWER. HE TURNED TOWARD THE ARPT, BUT WAS UNABLE TO REACH THE RWY. DRG AN EMERG LANDING, THE ACFT HIT A CHAIN LINK FENCE & WAS EXTENSIVELY DMGD.AN EXAM REVEALED THERE WAS WATER & RESIDUE IN THE FUEL SYS. THE OWNER HAD PURCHASED THE PREVIOUSLY SEIZED ACFT AT A SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT SALE. UNTIL THE DAY OF THE ACDNT, THE ACFT HAD NOT BEEN REFUEL SINCE IT WAS LAST FLOWN ON 7/27/89. AN ANNUAL INSPN HAD BEEN COMPLETED ON 9/22/89. THE ACDNT FLT WAS THE 1ST FLT AFTER THE ANNUAL INSPN & IT LASTED APRX 4 MIN. NEITHER PROP WAS FEATHERED AFTER THE ENGS LOST POWER.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N15LH](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N15LH-1992-11-18), registration cancelled 1992-11-18, S/N 272139 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-23-250
- Registry model: [Piper PA-23-250](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-23-250) (registry code 7102308) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 27-2139
- Airframe hours: 5019
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-540 250 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Hilderbrand Aero Services
- Registered owner: Hilderbrand Aero Services
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, September 22, 1989
- Departed: HWO, HOLLYWOOD, FL
- Destination: OPF, MIAMI, FL
- Airport: HWO, North Perry, runway 9R, 3,000 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 31; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 2,500 total

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 120° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 73 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: FLL, 5 nm away

## 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 19891115045389A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19891115045389A), Nov 15, 1989: Piper PA23250, Hollywood, FL, Substantial damage. Fuel starvation stopped both engines. On landing crashed. Sat out five months without purging fuel system.

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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