# NTSB NYC94LA032: Piper PA-28-140, N55719, North Haven, ME, December 4, 1993 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 4, 1993, 14:20 local (19:20 UTC) - Place: North Haven, ME - Location: 44.1281° N, 68.8742° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of North Haven, ME, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.1281&lon=-68.8742&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 13, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 38716 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC94LA032 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/38716/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC94LA032 ## Probable cause The pilot's use of excessive speed and altitude during the approach which resulted in a landing overrun of the runway. Factors were a precautionary landing and a ravine. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, climb - to cruise - exhaust system,stack - fractured (contributing factor) - Overrun, landing - roll - precautionary landing - performed, pilot in command (contributing factor) - airspeed - excessive, pilot in command (cause) - altitude - excessive, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - ravine (contributing factor) ## Analysis THE PILOT HEARD A NOISE FROM THE ENGINE WHICH HE DESCRIBED AS, 'VERY LOUD AND PERSISTENT RATTLE WITH SOME ATTENDING VIBRATION.' HE SET UP FOR A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING; HOWEVER, HE SAID HE WAS HIGH AND FAST AND TOUCHED DOWN OVER HALF WAY DOWN THE 2000 FOOT LONG RUNWAY WITH WET GRASS. THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE AIRPLANE ON THE REMAINING RUNWAY AND STEERED THE AIRPLANE OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY WHERE IT WENT DOWN AN EMBANKMENT AND STOPPED. POST ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION FOUND THE EXHAUST STACK ON THE NUMBER ONE CYLINDER HAD BROKEN AT THE MOUNTING FLANGE. ## Factual narrative On December 4, 1993, at 1430 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-28-140, N55719, piloted by Mr. George Rankine, of South Thomaston, Maine, made a precautionary landing on Watson Airport, North Haven, Maine. The airplane received substantial damage. The pilot and passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed for the flight operating under 14 CFR Part 91. The pilot reported he was flying at 1,000 feet when he added power for a climb. In the NTSB Accident Report, he stated: ...as I was climbing to 2500' [feet] before making the sea crossing, a noise started from the engine, a very loud and persistent rattle with some attending vibration...I made an approach to Watson Field, and came in to the nearest end higher and faster than normal to insure reaching the field. As a result the aircraft floated a considerable distance down the field. There was very little wind. I made contact with the grass more than half-way down the field and was unable to stop before the runway end in spite of heaving braking and engine shutdown. The airplane skidded over the left hand side of the runway into a gully. When interviewed after the accident, the pilot said the airstrip was approximately 2000 feet long and had a turf surface which was wet. He said he landed to the north and the winds were calm. He said that when he saw he was not going to stop on the runway, he intentionally steered the airplane to the left, and went down a 12 foot embankment, where the left wing was bent. According to FAA Airworthiness Inspector, Mr. Daniel Jockett, of the Portland Flight Standards District Office, no FAA personnel traveled to the scene. Mr Jockett contacted the mechanic who worked on the airplane. In a memo, Mr. Jockett stated: ...The mechanic stated that upon investigation of the aircraft, he found that the exhaust stack for the #1 engine [cylinder] had broken off at the mounting flange. In addition, he stated that he found no other defects with the aircraft that could have caused the engine problem.... ## Aircraft - Registration: [N55719](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N55719), registered now, S/N 287325467, built 1973 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-140 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-140](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-140) (registry code 7102802) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-7325467 - Airframe hours: 3767 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320-E3D 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Knox County Flying Club - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 5, 1993, 43 hours before - Departed: RKD, ROCKLAND, ME - Airport: NONE, Watson, runway 36, 2,000 × ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 66; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 413 total, 4 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 150° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 43 °F, dew point 28 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: RKD, 10 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 19931204046049A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19931204046049A), Dec 4, 1993: Piper PA28140, North Haven, ME, Substantial damage. Noise and rattle from engine. Tried land short wet sod strip. Ran off end. NR1 cyl exhaust stack broke at flange. ## Other investigations on N55719 (1) 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. - [NTSB NYC77FHJ18](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC77FHJ18), May 1, 1977: Piper PA-28 (N55719), Flushing, NY, substantial damage 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.