# NTSB NYC93FA066: Piper PA-23-250, N6382Y, Elmwood Park, NJ, March 28, 1993

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: March 28, 1993, 16:32 local (21:32 UTC)
- Place: Elmwood Park, NJ
- Location: 40.9045° N, 74.1195° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Elmwood Park, NJ, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.9045&lon=-74.1195&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 6 fatal
- Status: Completed, report March 18, 1994
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 37238
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC93FA066
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/37238/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC93FA066

## Probable cause

INADEQUATE MAINTENANCE AND INSPECTION OF THE FUEL INJECTOR SYSTEM RESULTING IN A LOSS OF POWER OF THE LEFT ENGINE, AND THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN MINIMUM CONTROL SPEED WHICH RESULTED IN A FLAT SPIN. A FACTOR WHICH CONTRIBUTED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT LOADING THE AIRPLANE OVER THE MAXIMUM GROSS WEIGHT AND BEYOND THE AFT CENTER OF GRAVITY LIMIT, THUS RAISING THE MINIMUM CONTROL SPEED.

## 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, climb
  - 1 engine
  - fuel system,nozzle - blocked(partial) (cause)
  - maintenance,annual inspection - inadequate, other maintenance personnel (cause)
- Loss of control - in flight, climb
  - aircraft weight and balance - exceeded, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - airspeed(vmc) - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall/spin - inadvertent, pilot in command
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

DURING AN INSTRUMENT CLIMB-OUT FROM TETERBORO AIRPORT, THE PILOT WAS ADVISED BY DEPARTURE CONTROL THAT HE WAS IN RADAR CONTACT, AND TO CLIMB & MAINTAIN 4000 FT. THE PILOT ACKNOWLEDGED THIS TRANSMISSION AT A RADAR RECORDED ALTITUDE OF 1800 FT MSL. THE FLIGHT WAS RECORDED REACHING AN ALTITUDE OF 2800 FT MSL BEFORE STARTING A DESCENT. NUMEROUS WITNESSES OBSERVED THE AIRPLANE DESCENDING OUT OF THE CLOUDS; ONE WITNESS DESCRIBED THE DESCENT AS A SPIN WITH NO FORWARD MOTION. ON-SCENE WRECKAGE EXAMINATION OF THE LEFT PROP SHOWED ONE BLADE BENT AFT APRX 120 DEG; OTHER BLADE STRAIGHT & NOT BENT. PROP WAS NOT IN FEATHERED POSITION. LEFT ENG TEARDOWN REVEALED 2 OF 6 FUEL INJECTOR NOZZLES RESTRICTED. LAST DOCUMENTED FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM CLEANING WAS IN 1985; BENDIX (MANUFACTURER) RECOMMENDS EVERY ANNUAL INSPECTION OR 100 HRS. THE AIRPLANE WAS 188 LBS OVER MAX GROSS WEIGHT; CG APRX 1 INCH AFT OF MAX AFT LIMIT. AFT CG INCREASES VMC AIRSPEED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6382Y](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6382Y-1993-10-06), registration cancelled 1993-10-06, S/N 273666 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-23-250
- Registry model: [Piper PA-23-250](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-23-250) (registry code 7102308) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 27-3666
- Airframe hours: 3295
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-540-C4B5 250 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Alan B. Fleischman
- Registered owner: Alan B. Fleischman
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, May 3, 1992, 49 hours before
- Departed: TEB, TETERBORO, NJ
- Destination: AGC, PITTSBURGH, PA
- Flight plan: IFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 54; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 2,200 total, 400 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Dusk
- Wind: 80° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 500 ft overcast
- Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 50 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: TEB, 5 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 19930328007069A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930328007069A), Mar 28, 1993: Piper PA23250, Elmwood Park, NJ, Substantial damage, 6 fatal. On climbout lost left engine. Failed feather. Over gross. Below VMC airspeed. Slat spin. Fowled fuel injectors.

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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