# NTSB WPR12LA051: Piper PA-44-180, N2163N, Seattle, WA, December 1, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: November 30, 2011, 19:30 local (Dec 1, 2011, 03:30 UTC) - Place: Seattle, WA - Coordinates: 47.529998, -122.30194 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.5300&lon=-122.3019&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report October 9, 2014 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 82438 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR12LA051 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/82438/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=82438 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR12LA051 ## Probable cause The flight instructor’s failure to maintain airplane control during a go-around. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-44-180, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md?model=7104402), [All aircraft, 1,269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-44-180, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7104402), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-44-180, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=7104402), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper PA-44-180, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7104402), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The flight instructor reported that, shortly after the student pilot conducted the takeoff, she noticed an uncommanded yaw, and she then took control of the airplane. The flight instructor started to land straight ahead, lowered the nose, and reduced power, but then she decided that insufficient runway remained to land, so she initiated a go-around. The airplane rolled sharply right and then descended in an uncontrolled inverted attitude, impacted the ground, and struck a parked airplane. The airplane fuselage and wings were substantially damaged from impact and partially consumed by the postcrash fire. A postaccident examination of the airframe and engine revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative On November 30, 2011, at 1930 Pacific standard time, a Piper PA-44-180, N2163N, collided with the airport ramp shortly after takeoff and impacted a parked airplane at Boeing Field/King County International Airport (BFI), Seattle, Washington. The airplane was registered to, and operated by, Hillsboro Aviation under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as an instructional flight. The certified flight instructor and student pilot sustained minor injuries, and the airplane sustained substantial damage from impact damage and the post crash fire. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the instructional flight, and a visual flight rules flight plan and had been filed. The airplane was departing for Portland-Hillsboro Airport (HIO), Portland, Oregon.The flight instructor reported that shortly after the airplane took off, she noticed an uncommanded yaw and took over flight control from the student. The flight instructor started to land straight ahead, lowered the nose and reduced power, but decided there was not enough remaining runway to land, and initiated a go-around. The instructor lost control of the airplane, which immediately rolled to the right and collided on the ramp inverted. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the wing section and spar box remained attached and that the empennage remained mostly undamaged. The forward cabin area was partially consumed by fired. Both engines and mounting assemblies were removed from the wing and exhibited fire damage. Flight control continuity was established, although the ailerons exhibited impact damage. The flaps were observed in a retracted position and an examination of the fuel system found no anomalies. Examination of both the left and right engines found thermal discoloration and damage although no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures were revealed that would have precluded normal operation. See the Engine/Airframe Examination report in the public docket. The flight instructor further stated that the engine did not sputter or run rough, and that the turn felt more like a hard roll than a yaw. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2163N](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2163N-2012-03-13), registration cancelled 2012-03-13, S/N 44-7995222, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-44-180 - Registry model: [Piper PA-44-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-44-180) (registry code 7104402) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 44-7995222 - Airframe hours: 11515 - Engines: LYCOMING LO-360-E1A6D 180 horsepower reciprocating; LYCOMING O-360-E1A6D 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Hillsboro Aviation Inc - Registered owner: Hillsboro Aviation Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 27, 2011 - Departed: BFI, Seattle, WA - Destination: PDX, Portland, OR - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: BFI, Boeing Field/King County Inter, runway 31R, 3,710 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 33; injuries: minor; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 2, 2011; seat: right; flight hours: 1,996 total, 517 in this make and model, 1,905 as pilot in command, 158 in the last 90 days, 54 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours - Pilot; age 22; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review October 29, 2011; seat: left; flight hours: 170 total, 3 in this make and model, 110 as pilot in command, 66 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 45 °F, dew point 37 °F - Altimeter: 30.76 inHg - Observed at: BFI ## 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 20111130027571A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20111130027571A), Nov 30, 2011: Piper PA-44-180, Seattle, WA, Destroyed. On November 30, 2011, at 1933 pacific standard time, a Piper PA-44-180, N2163N, registered to and operated by hillsboro aviation, hillsboro, Oregon, as a title… ## Docket (7 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 21, 2014, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=82438. 6.8 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40359609&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Record of Conversation - CFI (item 2, .PDF, 31 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40415398&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20CFI-Master.PDF - Record of Conversation - Student Pilot (item 3, .PDF, 26 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40415399&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20Student%20Pilot-Master.PDF - Airframe and Engine Examination (item 4, .PDF, 73 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40415400&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Airframe%20and%20Engine%20Examination-Master.PDF - Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation (item 5, .PDF, 695 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40415401&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Statement%20of%20Party%20Representatives%20to%20NTSB%20Investigation-Redacted.PDF - Photo 1 - Piper Seminole Damage (Accident Airplane) (item 6, .PDF, 2.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40415402&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20-%20Piper%20Seminole%20Damage%20(Accident%20Airplane)-Master.PDF - Photo 2 - Piper Seneca Damage (item 7, .PDF, 2.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40415403&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%20-%20Piper%20Seneca%20Damage-Master.PDF 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.