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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

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NTSB Report

July 9, 1992 · Piper PA-24-260 · N9323P

Woods Cross, UT

Overview

Report Status
Probable Cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
July 9, 1992
Injury Outcomes
4 injuries (4 fatalities)
Location
Woods Cross, UT
Aircraft
Piper PA-24-260
Tail Number
N9323P
Operator
Helmut Fischer
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
SEA92FA147

During the take off ground run, witnesses reported that the engine sounded normal, however, the airplane remained on the runway for an unusual length of time. When the airplane finally lifted off near the end of the runway, the angle of attack increased above normal. The airplane continued to climb in this attitude, with the wings wagging up and down. The airplane attained an altitude of approximately 100 to 200 feet when the right wing and nose dropped toward the ground. The airplane collided with the ground approximately one half mile north of the airport in a nose down, right wing low attitude. A post crash fire ignited and consumed the airplane. During a post crash engine teardown, it was found that the number six cylinder could not hold compression. Further teardown revealed a section of the cylinder around the exhaust seal was missing. Metallurgical examination revealed that the damage most likely occurred as a result of extremely lean operations which led to detonation. The pilot had recently purchased the airplane, which was equipped with a turbo charger, and was taught to lean the mixture for take off. The operator's manual states for take off to have the mixture full rich.

NTSB Probable Cause

PILOT FACTOR IN THAT HE FAILED TO ATTAIN AND MAINTAIN SUFFICIENT FLYING SPEED. FACTORS TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: CYLINDER OVER TEMPERATURE, IMPROPER USE OF THE MIXTURE AND PROCEDURES/DIRECTIVES WERE NOT FOLLOWED.

Full Narrative

DURING THE TAKE OFF GROUND RUN, WITNESSES REPORTED THAT THE ENG SOUNDED NORMAL, HOWEVER, THE AIRPLANE REMAINED ON THE RWY FOR AN UNUSUAL LENGTH OF TIME. WHEN THE AIRPLANE FINALLY LIFTED OFF NEAR THE END OF THE RWY, THE ANGLE OF ATTACK INCREASED ABOVE NORMAL. THE AIRPLANE CONTINUED TO CLIMB IN THIS ATTITUDE, WITH THE WINGS WAGGING UP AND DOWN. THE AIRPLANE ATTAINED AN ALT OF APPROX 100 200 FT WHEN THE RT WING AND NOSE DROPPED TOWARD THE GROUND. THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND APPROX ONE HALF MILE NORTH OF THE ARPT IN A NOSE DOWN, RT WING LOW ATTITUDE. A POST CRASH FIRE IGNITED AND CONSUMED THE AIRPLANE. DURING A POST CRASH ENG TEARDOWN, IT WAS FOUND THAT THE NUMBER SIX CYLINDER COULD NOT HOLD COMPRESSION. FURTHER TEARDOWN REVEALED A SECTION OF THE CYLINDER AROUND THE EXHAUST SEAL WAS MISSING. METALLURGICAL EXAMINATION REVEALED THAT THE DAMAGE MOST LIKELY OCCURRED AS A RESULT OF EXTREMELY LEAN OPERATIONS WHICH LEAD TO DETONATION. THE PLT HAD RECENTLY PURCHASED THE AIRPLANE, WHICH WAS EQUIPPED WITH A TURBO CHARGER, AND WAS TAUGHT TO LEAN THE MIXTURE FOR TAKE OFF. THE OPERATORS MANUAL STATES FOR TAKE OFF TO HAVE THE MIXTURE FULL RICH.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time10:30 MDT
Nearest AirportSKYPARK (1nm NNW)
Runway34
Runway Length4700 ft
Runway Width70 ft
Flight Plan FiledVFR
Aircraft FireGrd
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA-24-260
Tail NumberN9323P
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
OperatorHelmut Fischer
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · IO-540-R1A5 · Reciprocating · 260
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury Summary4 injuries (4 fatalities)
Fatal4
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total4
Crew 1Age 43 · Unknown

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind300° @ 7 kt
Visibility50 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point48
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time15:55
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data