# NTSB NYC90LA084: Piper PA-32R-301T, N363CC, Bedford, MA, April 8, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: April 8, 1990, 12:40 local (16:40 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: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 28, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 36624
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC90LA084
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/36624/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC90LA084

## Probable cause

FAILURE OF THE EXHAUST SYSTEM AND SUBSEQUENT MELTING/SHORTING OF THE MAGNETO P-LEADS.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power, takeoff - initial climb
  - exhaust system - failure,partial (cause)
  - exhaust system - leak (cause)
  - ignition system,magneto grounding lead (p-lead) - melted (cause)
  - ignition system,magneto grounding lead (p-lead) - shorted (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - uncontrolled
- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - landing gear - overload (contributing factor)
- Complete gear collapsed, landing - flare/touchdown

## Analysis

A PIPER PA-32-301T WAS ON CLIMB OUT FROM BEDFORD, AT AN ALTITUDE OF ABOUT 600 FEET AGL WHEN THE ENGINE STOPPED RUNNING. THE PILOT MADE AN EMERGENCY LANDING ON A TAXIWAY AND LANDED HARD, COLLAPSING THE LANDING GEAR. EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE SHOWED THE EXHAUST INTERMEDIATE PIPE FLANGE FAILED AND SEPARATED FROM THE CROSSOVER PIPE. HOT GASES MELTED THE INSULATION ON THE 'P' LEADS OF THE MAGNETO SHORTING IT OUT. THE EXHAUST INTERMEDIATE PIPE AND THE CROSSOVER PIPE WERE IMPROPERLY INSTALLED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N363CC (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32R-301T (PA-32R-301)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 32R8029071
- Airframe hours: 1477
- Engines: LYCOMING TIO-540-S1A 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Randal L.Briggs
- Registered owner: R. Briggs/E. Walter/B. Shulman
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, April 21, 1989, 219 hours before
- Destination: BTV, BURLINGTON, VT
- Airport: BED, Bedford, runway 29, 7,001 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 47; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 2,600 total, 150 in this make and model, 1,970 as pilot in command, 4 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 280° at 13 knots, gusting 30
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 41 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg

## 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 19900408007599A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900408007599A), Apr 8, 1990: Piper PA32R301T, Bedford, MA, Substantial damage. Engine lost power on takeoff. Made hard landing,collapsed the gear. Improperly installed exhaust,broke,burned leads

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.