# NTSB NYC98LA019: Piper PA-34-220T, N8371H, Philadelphia, PA, October 24, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 24, 1997, 15:51 local (19:51 UTC) - Place: Philadelphia, PA - Coordinates: 40.070487, -74.999343 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.0705&lon=-74.9993&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 4, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 39494 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC98LA019 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/39494/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC98LA019 ## Probable cause the pilot's failure to check the elevator trim prior to takeoff, and his failure to retard the power in a timely manner after touchdown. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb - checklist - not followed, pilot in command (cause) - elevator trim - not set, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - Gear collapsed, landing - landing gear,main gear - overload - landing gear,nose gear - overload ## Analysis The pilot stated that during the takeoff run, it was difficult to pitch the nose up for takeoff. The airplane became airborne and descended back onto the runway. The airplane porpoised on the runway several times before the nose and right main landing gear collapsed. The pilot reported that the flight was the first since the annual inspection. Although he checked flight control freedom before takeoff, he did not check the elevator trim position. After the accident, he realized the trim was in the full nose-down position. Additionally, the pilot reported that he did not immediately retard the power after the airplane returned to the runway and began to porpoise. ## Factual narrative On October 24, 1997, about 1551 eastern daylight time, N8371H, a Piper PA-34-220T, was substantially damaged when it landed hard during the initial takeoff climb at the Northeast Philadelphia Airport (PNE), Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The certificated private pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight, and no flight plan had been filed for the flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. In the NTSB Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, the pilot stated: "...No specific trip was planned...Engine run up was through for mags & feathering also checked flight control for freedom of movement and correctness but did not check trim position...Cleared by tower...for takeoff on runway 33...As I tried to pull nose up, as plane accelerated, it was difficult, finally got airplane off the ground, but could not hold it there (off). N8371 returned to ground and porpoised two or three times, landing gear broke off and collapsed and airplane skidded to a stop 100 feet beyond the intersection of runway 33 and 24 A witness stated: "...[the accident airplane] proceeded down the runway in a normal manner to accelerate to take-off speed. At or about the 3,000 ft runway marker the aircraft rotated its self and only came up approx. 25 - 50 ft, it then slammed its self into the rwy approx. 3-4 times bouncing violently onto rwy surface. During the 3rd or 4th bounce the aircraft's undercarriage glowed bright orange for 5 sec w/ [with] white clouds of smoke coming from under fuselage. The aircraft then proceeded down the rwy for approx. another 1,000 ft before coming to a rest on its belly during the 1,000 ft roll...." An inspector from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reported the examination of the airplane revealed the nose and right main landing gears had collapsed. Both the left and right wing spars and the fuselage were buckled. In a follow-up telephone interview, the pilot reported that the accident flight was the first flight following an annual inspection. After the airplane had come to rest, he did check the elevator trim and found it in the full nose down position. Additionally, when the airplane started to porpoise, he had not retarded the power immediately. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8371H](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8371H-1999-01-26), registration cancelled 1999-01-26, S/N 348133060 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-34-220T - Registry model: [Piper PA-34-220T](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-34-220t) (registry code 7103420) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 34-8133060 - Airframe hours: 2578 - Engines: Lycoming TSIO-360-KB 220 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Morton T. Saunders - Registered owner: Besa Aircraft Corp - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 22, 1997, 0 hours before - Departed: PNE - Destination: LNS, LANCASTER, PA - Airport: PNE, Northeast Philadelphia, runway 33, 5,000 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 64; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 1,344 total, 228 in this make and model, 1,159 as pilot in command, 41 in the last 90 days, 14 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 290° at 12 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 52 °F, dew point 25 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: PNE ## 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 19971024047849A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19971024047849A), Oct 24, 1997: Piper PA34220T, Philadelphia, PA, Substantial damage. (-16) The pilot stated that when the aircraft was on take-off roll from Philadelphia northeast airport runway 33 extra effort was required on the elevators for… ## Other investigations on N8371H (2) 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 NYC92LA171](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC92LA171), Aug 20, 1992: Piper PA-34-200T (N8371H), Bedford, MA, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE PILOT'S LOSS OF AIRPLANE CONTROL DURING THE FLARE, RESULTING IN PORPOISING AND SUBSEQUENT HARD LANDING. - [NTSB MIA89LA254](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA89LA254), Sep 17, 1989: Piper PA-34-220T (N8371H), Fort Myers, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE PILOT'S IMPROPER FLARE AND IMPROPER RECOVERY FROM A BOUNCED LANDING. DARKNESS WAS A RELATED FACTOR. 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.