- Date
- April 29, 2007, 20:15 local (Apr 30, 2007, 00:15 UTC)
- Place
- Brunswick, GA
- Injuries
- 4 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N555ESPiper PA 46-350P
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Dusk
- Status
- Completed · report May 28, 2008
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- FAA/FSDO
- FAA report
- 20070429008979A
- Case key
- 65675
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's delayed decision to abort the takeoff. Contributing to the accident was the attempted takeoff above the airplane's maximum gross weight, and an undetermined partial power loss, as reported by the pilot.
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.
Analysis
The airplane was about 175 pounds above its maximum gross takeoff weight, as it departed from a 5,800-foot-long, 100-foot-wide, asphalt runway. The pilot reported that the engine experienced a momentary loss of power during the takeoff roll and he elected to continue the takeoff. The airplane appeared to be performing normally; however, just prior to lift off, the engine rpm sounded like it decreased. The airplane lifted off the runway; but felt "sluggish and underpowered." The pilot elected to abort the takeoff and landed hard on the runway. The right main landing gear tire blew out, and the aft wing spars on both wings were damaged. Examination of the airplane did not reveal any mechanical malfunctions. The pilot reported 1,066 hours of total flight experience, which included 31 hours in the same make and model as the accident airplane.
Factual narrative
On April 29, 2007, about 2015 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA 46-350P, N555ES, was substantially damaged during an aborted takeoff at the Malcolm McKinnon Airport (SSI), Brunswick, Georgia. The certificated private pilot and the three passengers were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and an instrument flight rules flight plan had been filed for the flight destined for the Evansville Regional Airport (EVV), Evansville, Indiana. The personal flight was conducted under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.
The pilot reported that the airplane performed normally during a series of flights earlier in the day. During the accident flight, the airplane was departing from runway 4, a 5,800-foot-long, 100-foot-wide, asphalt runway. The pilot stated that the engine experienced a momentarily loss of power during the takeoff roll, which he described as similar to the turbocharger not operating. The pilot elected to continue the takeoff and the airplane appeared to be performing normally; however, just prior to lift off, the engine rpm sounded like it decreased. The airplane lifted off the runway; but felt "sluggish and underpowered," and the pilot elected to abort the takeoff.
The airplane subsequently landed hard, the right main landing gear tire blew out, and the aft wing spars on both wings were damaged.
Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector did not reveal any mechanical malfunctions.
The pilot reported that the airplane's gross weight at the time of the takeoff was about 175 pounds above its maximum gross takeoff weight. He further reported 1,066 hours of total flight experience, which included 31 hours in the same make and model as the accident airplane.
A weather observation taken at SSI, at 1953, reported: winds from 170 degrees at 5 knots, visibility 10 statue miles, clear skies, temperature 22 degrees Celsius (C), dew point 15 degrees C, altimeter 30.01 inches of mercury.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N555ES
- Reported as
- Piper PA 46-350P
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 4622129
- Airframe hours
- 3,218
- Engine
- Lycoming TIO-540, 350 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · July 1, 2006 · 116 hours before
- Departed
- SSI · Brunswick, GA
- Destination
- EVV · Evansville, IN
- Flight plan
- IFR
- Airport
- SSI · Malcolm Mc Kinnon, runway 4, 5,800 × 100 ft, asphalt
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
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- December 1, 2005
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 1,066 total · 31 in this make and model · 1,005 as pilot in command · 35 in the last 90 days · 24 in the last 30 days · 3 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Dusk
- Wind
- 170° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 72 °F, dew point 59 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.01 inHg
- Observed at
- SSI
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.