# NTSB NYC98LA059: Piper PA-23-250, N6962Y, Perkasie, PA, December 18, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 18, 1997, 10:15 local (15:15 UTC) - Place: Perkasie, PA - Coordinates: 40.370559, -75.289428 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.3706&lon=-75.2894&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 28, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 39528 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC98LA059 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/39528/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC98LA059 ## Probable cause The flight instructor failure to maintain directional control, which resulted in an off runway landing, after the left engine was reported to have lost power. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, takeoff - initial climb - 1 engine - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command(cfi) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown - terrain condition - rough/uneven ## Analysis The pilot owner was receiving multi-engine flight instruction from a certified flight instructor. The flight instructor reported that just after liftoff, with the landing gear still extended, the left engine lost power. The airplane veered to the left. The flight instructor took control of the airplane, reduced power, and landed in rough terrain, about 150 feet to the left the runway. Examination of the airplane revealed that neither propeller had been feathered, and examination of the engines did not reveal any evidence of a mechanical failure or malfunction. ## Factual narrative On December 18, 1997, about 1015 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-23-250, N6962Y, was substantially damaged during an aborted takeoff at Pennridge Airport (N70), Perkasie, Pennsylvania. The certificated commercial pilot/flight instructor and private pilot/aircraft owner were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the dual instructional flight, which originated at N70, about 1000. No flight plan had been filed for the flight that was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. In the NTSB Aircraft Accident Report, the pilot stated: "Instructor and student were making normal takeoffs. Multiengine student...was at the controls. During the second takeoff, the left engine failed just after rotation. The aircraft yawed to the left. Instructor pilot then took control and stopped the yaw. The aircraft was low and slow at this point. The throttles were closed and the aircraft landed to the left side of the runway in a grass field." An inspector from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reported that the airplane owner had recently received his private pilot certificate and was receiving flight instruction toward the issuance of his multi-engine rating. The flight instructor occupied the right seat, and the private pilot occupied the left seat. The FAA Inspector reported that the airplane had taken off on runway 8. With the airplane at an altitude of less than 50 feet, and the landing gear still extended, the left engine lost power. The airplane drifted left of the runway, and power was reduced on the operating engine. A touchdown was then made in rough terrain, about 150 feet left of the runway edge, about 2,000 feet from the departure end of the runway. The Inspector also reported that the landing gear collapsed, and the spars on both wings were bent. Neither propeller appeared to be feathered. The fuel drains on the left wing were broken off during the ground slide and the tanks were empty. The right side fuel tanks appeared to be over 3/4 full. A check of refueling records revealed that all fuel tanks on the airplane had been filled before departure. The FAA Inspector conducted an examination of the engine. He reported no evidence of a mechanical failure or malfunction. The fuel injection system was removed and forward to Precision Airmotive for further examination. According to their report, no evidence of a mechanical failure or malfunction was found. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6962Y](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6962Y-2013-05-03), registration cancelled 2013-05-03, S/N 27-4327, built 1969 (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) - Registry engine: [Lycoming TI0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (registry code 41533, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 27-4327 - Airframe hours: 2871 - Engines: Lycoming IO-540 250 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Robert H. Beckett - Registered owner: Aonair - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 10, 1997, 10 hours before - Departed: N70 - Airport: N70, Pennridge, runway 8, 4,215 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 51; airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 9,048 total, 1,250 in this make and model, 8,837 as pilot in command, 308 in the last 90 days, 103 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 30 °F, dew point 23 °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 19971218039139A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19971218039139A), Dec 18, 1997: Piper PA23250, Perkasie, PA, Substantial damage. Left engine lost power on initial climbout. Aborted when VMC occured. Landed rough area off side of runway. (.4) the pilot owner was receiving multi-engine… 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.