# NTSB MIA97LA250: Piper PA-28R-200, N4315X, Miami, FL, September 19, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 19, 1997, 19:04 local (23:04 UTC) - Place: Miami, FL - Coordinates: 25.650165, -80.409622 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=25.6502&lon=-80.4096&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 4 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 7, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 38338 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA97LA250 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/38338/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA97LA250 ## Probable cause The failure of the pilot to properly plan his descent and approach for a forced landing following partial loss of engine power resulting in the aircraft landing short of the intended landing runway. A factor in the accident was improper inspection of the aircraft by company maintenance personnel resulting in a cracked mixture cable hold down bracket going undetected until failure and a missing clamp rubber insert going undetected. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(partial) - mech failure/malf, cruise - normal - mixture control,cable - cracked - maintenance,inspection - inadequate, company maintenance personnel (contributing factor) - mixture control,cable - separation - mixture control - inoperative - Forced landing, descent - emergency - Undershoot, approach - planned approach - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - distance/altitude - misjudged, pilot in command (cause) - Gear collapsed, landing - roll ## Analysis Upon reaching cruising altitude of 8,500 feet the pilot leaned the engine fuel mixture. Several minutes later the fuel mixture began to lean further and the engine lost power. Movement of the mixture control handle had no effect on the engine mixture or engine operation. The flight descended for a forced landing at a near by airport. Upon turning on to final approach the flight did not have sufficient altitude and airspeed to make the runway. The aircraft landed on soft terrain short of the runway and the landing gear collapsed. Post crash examination of the engine showed the mixture control cable hold down bracket had broken near the engine and a clamp holding the cable to the engine mount was missing the rubber insert allowing the clamp to slide freely on the engine mount arm. Manufacturer inspection requirements state the mixture control cable be inspected for security each 100 flight hours. ## Factual narrative On September 19, 1997, about 1904 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-28R-200, N4315X, registered to Grady and Francis, Inc., landed short of the runway while making a forced landing following loss of engine power at Kendall-Tamiami Executive Airport, Miami, Florida, while on a Title 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and a visual flight rules flight plan was filed. The aircraft received substantial damage and the private-rated pilot and three passengers were not injured. The flight originated from Key West, Florida, the same day, about 1840. The pilot stated they were in cruise flight at 8,500 feet near Miami, Florida. He leaned the engine fuel mixture to 11 gallons per hour with the engine mixture control. The engine ran fine for a few minutes and then the fuel mixture began to lean further and the engine lost power. He placed the mixture control in the full rich position, but the mixture setting did not change. He placed all of the engine controls full forward with no response from the engine. With partial engine power he descended for a forced landing at Kendall-Tamiami Executive Airport. He had insufficient altitude and airspeed to make the runway and landed on soft terrain short of the runway. The landing gear collapsed during rollout and the aircraft skidded to a stop. Postcrash examination of the aircraft was performed by an FAA inspector. The mixture control cable hold down bracket, at the fuel control end of the cable, was found broken. Additionally a clamp attaching the mixture control cable to the engine mount was missing the rubber insert and the clamp moved freely on the engine mount arm. Movement of the mixture control caused the housing to move, but the inner cable would not move the mixture control arm on the fuel control. (See FAA Inspector Statement) The Piper Aircraft PA-28R Inspection Report requires that the security of the mixture control cable be inspected each 100 flight hours. (See attached Inspection Report) ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4315X](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4315X-1998-01-12), registration cancelled 1998-01-12, S/N 28R7635010 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-28R-200 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28R-200](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28r-200) (registry code 7102811) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28R-7635010 - Airframe hours: 6268 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360-C1C 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Cap Flying Club - Registered owner: Grady And Francis, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, January 16, 1997, 420 hours before - Departed: EYW, KEY WEST, FL - Destination: ORL, ORLANDO, FL - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: TMB, Kendall-Tamiami Executiv, runway 9R, 4,999 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 42; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 512 total, 10 in this make and model, 7 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 100° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 10,000 ft broken - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 73 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: TMB, 1 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 19970919036479A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970919036479A), Sep 19, 1997: Piper PA28R200, Miami, FL, Substantial damage. Lost power after leaning mixture at 8000FT then landed short folding gear. Cable came loose. Failed move mixture. (-23) flight originated at key west, FL VFR… 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.