# NTSB NYC87LA115: Piper PA-31-350, N40958, Bedford, MA, March 27, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: March 27, 1987, 08:30 local (13:30 UTC)
- Place: Bedford, MA
- Location: 42.4699° N, 71.2890° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at LAURENCE G HANSCOM FLD (BED), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.4699&lon=-71.2890&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 5 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 7, 1988
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 30624
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC87LA115
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/30624/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC87LA115

## Sequence of events

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

- On ground/water collision with object, taxi - to takeoff
  - object - airport facility
  - visual lookout - poor, pilot in command (cause)
  - other airport/runway maintenance - not identified, ground personnel (cause)

## Analysis

DURING TAXI OPERATION IN PREPARATION FOR TAKEOFF, THE LEFT MAIN GEAR OF THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED AN UNMARKED OPEN MANHOLE AND THE AIRCRAFT WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N40958 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-31-350
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 318152183
- Airframe hours: 1876
- Engines: LYCOMING TIO-540-J28D 350 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Tarair Corp.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, January 19, 1987, 16 hours before
- Departed: BED
- Destination: PWM, PORTLAND, ME
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: BED, Hanscom Field

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 57; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; flight hours: 4,152 total, 115 in this make and model, 4,000 as pilot in command, 32 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 320° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles

## 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 19870327007659A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870327007659A), Mar 27, 1987: Piper PA31350, Bedford, MA, Substantial damage. During taxi for takeoff aircraft dropped into an open manhole.

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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