# NTSB NYC94LA074: Piper PA-28R-200, N5335T, White Plains, NY, April 4, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 4, 1994, 18:48 local (22:48 UTC) - Place: White Plains, NY - Coordinates: 41.019287, -73.749908 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.0193&lon=-73.7499&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 13, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 38747 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC94LA074 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/38747/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC94LA074 ## Probable cause The partial loss of engine power as the result of a disconnected throttle cable, and the subsequent forced landing and ditching in water to avoid collision with trees. ## 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, maneuvering - throttle/power lever,linkage - disconnected (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - Ditching, landing - terrain condition - water ## Analysis THE PILOT WAS MANEUVERING IN THE TRAFFIC PATTERN, WHEN HE OBSERVED A DROP IN MANIFOLD PRESSURE TO 13 INCHES AND A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. THROTTLE MOVEMENT HAD NO AFFECT ON THE MANIFOLD PRESSURE. HE INITIATED A FORCED LANDING TO RUNWAY 29. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO STOP THE AIRPLANE WITH HEAVY BRAKING, BUT THERE WAS INSUFFICIENT RUNWAY AVAILABLE AND TREES WERE OFF THE END OF THE RUNWAY. HE LIFTED THE AIRPLANE OFF THE RUNWAY AND RETRACTED THE GEAR AND SOME WING FLAPS. HE TRIED AGAIN TO INCREASE ENGINE POWER, BUT THERE WAS STILL NO RESPONSE. HE ELECTED TO DITCH THE AIRPLANE IN A LAKE. EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED THAT THE THROTTLE CABLE WAS DISCONNECTED FROM THE FUEL INJECTOR CONTROL ARM. ## Factual narrative On Monday, April 4, 1994 at 1848 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-28R-200, N3553T, piloted by Richard V. Palmer, was substantially damaged when it was ditched in Rye Lake, White Plains, New York. The pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The flight was being conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The flight departed Lawrence, Massachusetts, destined for the Westchester County Airport (HPN), White Plains, New York. The pilot was maneuvering in the traffic pattern at HPN, when he observed a drop in manifold pressure to 13 inches and a loss of engine power. He increased the throttle and mixture settings, activated the electric fuel boost pump and switched fuel tanks, but there was no increase in engine power. He initiated a forced landing to runway 29. An airport operations supervisor witnessed the landing and stated: The aircraft crossed over the threshold of RW29 at about thirty feet AGL and touched down around taxiway Golf, where I noticed heavy braking. The aircraft then attempted to depart and while in a right turn out descended rapidly and set down in Rye Lake about 1000 feet off shore. Runway 29 was 4451 feet in length, and taxiway Golf was approximately 1000 feet from the end of the runway. The pilot stated: Realizing that I had in excess of 100 miles per hour indicated airspeed and minimal runway remaining I made the decision to lift off the runway in order to avoid trees.... I raised the landing gear...and retracted the flaps to 10 degrees. I was able to clear the trees...but was not able to gain altitude because the manifold pressure would not increase above 13 inches....it became apparent that I could not gain sufficient altitude to clear the surrounding trees and hills I [lowered] flaps and ditched in the lake. An examination of the engine by Federal Aviation Administration Inspectors revealed that the throttle cable was disconnected from the fuel injector control arm. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5335T](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5335T-1994-06-17), registration cancelled 1994-06-17, S/N 28R7235208 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28R-200 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28R-200](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28r-200) (registry code 7102811) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28R-7235208 - Airframe hours: 2566 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-C1C 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Rnt Associates Inc. - Registered owner: Richard V. Palm - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 24, 1993, 120 hours before - Departed: LWM, LAWRENCE, MA - Destination: HPN, NY - Airport: HPN, Westchester, runway 29, 4,451 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 48; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 292 total, 195 in this make and model, 206 as pilot in command, 15 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 320° at 7 knots - Visibility: 15 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 55 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 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 19940404000349A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940404000349A), Apr 4, 1994: Piper PA28R200, White Plains, NY, Substantial damage. Lost partial power on downwind. Came in too fast on final. Began go around. Ditched in lake. Throttle disconnected. 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.