# NTSB NYC05LA103: Piper PA-31-350, N615SN, Beverly, MA, June 20, 2005 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 20, 2005, 12:05 local (16:05 UTC) - Place: Beverly, MA - Coordinates: 42.584167, -70.916389 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.5842&lon=-70.9164&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 3, 2006 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 61758 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC05LA103 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/61758/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC05LA103 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to attain the proper touchdown point while conducting a precautionary landing. A factor was the partial loss of power to one engine for undetermined reasons. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, takeoff - initial climb - 1 engine - surge - reason for occurrence undetermined (contributing factor) - In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - terrain condition - grass ## Analysis The pilot was test flying the airplane after recent maintenance was performed on the engines. During initial climbout, the left engine began to surge, and most of its power was lost. The air traffic control tower radioed to the pilot that heavy black smoke was trailing from the left engine, and that he was cleared to return to the airport. The pilot initiated a left turn, and continued to climb to approximately 600 feet. He then initiated a "short approach" back to the airport because he believed that the left engine might have been on fire. The airplane touched down "hard" in a grass area to the right of the runway, rolled across a taxiway, and sheared off the landing gear, before coming to rest. The pilot additionally stated on the NTSB Form 6120.1/2, Recommendation (How Could This Accident Have Been Prevented), "Possibly more single engine training, and on a regular basis to stay more proficient." After the accident, the left engine was examined and test run, with no abnormalities noted. ## Factual narrative On June 20, 2005, about 1205 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-31-350, N615SN, was substantially damaged during a forced landing shortly after takeoff from Beverly Municipal Airport (BVY), Beverly, Massachusetts. The certificated private pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the local maintenance test flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. According to the pilot, he was test flying the airplane after recent maintenance was performed on the engines. During initial climbout from runway 16, the left engine began to surge, and most of its power was lost. The air traffic control tower radioed to the pilot that heavy black smoke was trailing from the left engine, and that he was cleared to return to the airport and land on any runway. The pilot initiated a left turn, and continued to climb to approximately 600 feet. He then initiated a "short approach" to runway 16 because he believed that the left engine might have been on fire. The airplane touched down "hard" in a grass area to the right of the runway, rolled across a taxiway, and sheared off the landing gear, before coming to rest. The pilot additionally stated on the NTSB Form 6120.1/2, Recommendation (How Could This Accident Have Been Prevented): "Possibly more single engine training, and on a regular basis to stay more proficient." Examination of the left engine by an FAA inspector revealed that the spark plugs had "more than the normal carbon deposits on them"; however, no carbon bridging was noted. The spark plugs were tested and operated with no abnormalities noted. No chaffing of the magneto p-leads was observed. The fuel pressure to the engine was tested and found to be within nominal limits. The upper deck air pressure manifolds, air fittings, and flex lines, were absent of debris. The engine was test run in the presence of an FAA inspector. The inspector observed that on initial startup, the engine smoked for a few minutes, then the smoke cleared, and the engine subsequently ran with no other abnormalities noted. The engine was also run on both magnetos, then just the left magneto, and finally the right magneto, with no abnormalities noted. After the test run, the spark plugs were removed and examined. Carbon was observed on the electrodes; however, it was less than what was observed prior to the test. The engines had accumulated 2.2 total hours of operation since overhaul at the time of the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N615SN](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N615SN-2015-05-19), registration cancelled 2015-05-19, S/N 31-8052094, built 1980 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-31-350 - Registry model: [Piper PA-31-350](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-31-350) (registry code 7103110) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming TI0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (registry code 41533, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 31-8052094 - Airframe hours: 3394.6 - Engines: Lycoming TIO-540-J2BD 350 horsepower reciprocating; Lycoming LTIO-540-J2BD 350 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Flight test, Part 91 - Operator: Dana Lake - Registered owner: Northeast Equipment Leasing Corp - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 1, 2005, 2.8 hours before - Departed: BVY, Beverly, MA - Airport: BVY, Beverly Municipal Airport, runway 16, 4,634 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 54; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review October 1, 2004; seat: left; flight hours: 1,210 total, 102 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 170° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 30.23 inHg - Observed at: BVY ## 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 20050620017929A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050620017929A), Jun 20, 2005: Piper PA31350, Beverly, MA, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot reported the left engine ran rough and lost power immediately after takeoff from runway 16 at Beverly, MA airport (bvy). ATCT reported to the pilot… 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.