- Date
- July 8, 1996, 12:30 local (19:30 UTC)
- Place
- Hillsboro, OR
- Injuries
- 5 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Unknown
- Aircraft
- N58VJPiper PA-46-350P
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report December 20, 1996
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19960708019829A
- Case key
- 42426
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
blockage of the vents to both wing fuel tanks, after unknown personnel failed to remove tape (protective covering) from the vents, which resulted in collapsed fuel tanks (and wing damage).
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
After landing at Hillsboro, OR, the aircraft wings were both observed to be wrinkled and collapsed in the fuel tank areas. Investigation revealed that both wing fuel vents had been covered with electrical tape; however, the source of the electrical tape was not determined.
Factual narrative
On July 8, 1996, approximately 1230 Pacific daylight time, a Piper PA-46-350P, N58VJ, operated by DMH Inc., was observed to have damage to both wings while on the ramp at the Hillsboro airport, Hillsboro, OR. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The private pilot and four passengers were not injured. The 14 CFR 91 personal flight had departed Sun River, OR earlier in the day for Hillsboro.
During landing at Hillsboro, the pilot heard a "popping" sound. After taxiing to the ramp, line service personnel noticed the wings of the aircraft were wrinkled and collapsed in the fuel tank area. Black electrical tape was later discovered over both wing fuel vents.
Determination of substantial damage was not made until 7/25/96, when it was determined that the outer sections of both wings would need to be replaced. The time of the actual wing collapse and the source of the tape was not determined.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N58VJ
- Reported as
- Piper PA-46-350P
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 4622144
- Airframe hours
- 786
- Engine
- Lycoming TIO-540-AE2A, 350 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Dmh Inc
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · July 1, 1996 · 6 hours before
- Departed
- S21 · Sunriver, OR
- Destination
- HIO
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 46
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 1,850 total · 780 in this make and model · 1,733 as pilot in command
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Visibility
- 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 81 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.