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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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NTSB Report

March 4, 1990 · Piper PA-24-180 · N5354P

Fabens, TX

Overview

Report Status
Probable Cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
March 4, 1990
Injury Outcomes
3 injuries (2 fatalities, 1 serious injury)
Location
Fabens, TX
Aircraft
Piper PA-24-180
Tail Number
N5354P
Operator
Rufus C Cain
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
FTW90FA077

After liftoff, the airplane appeared to stop climbing at about 90-100 ft AGL; its wings rocked side-to-side, and it then pitched nose down into the ground. The engine was heard until impact. Mixture control found in full rich position; density altitude approximately 5,000 ft. Oil stain found near prop governor; AD 90-04-06 and Lycoming SB No. 488, prop governor line & elbow fitting, NCW. Engine teardown showed prop governor screen blocked with numerous contaminants; metallic flakes on oil filter; carb body dirty; carb float attach pin worn; plugs showed rich fuel condition; mag timing 3 deg off; intake/exhaust rocker arms improperly installed; piston rings worn beyond life limits; No.2 cyl top ring broken; numerous rod caps & bearings installed backwards; all crank pins worn beyond service limits; all main bearings worn beyond service limits. Serial number on data plate did not match case number of the engine. Airplane was purchased 1/23/90 by the pilot.

NTSB Probable Cause

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE AIRSPEED DURING A TAKEOFF WITH LESS THAN FULL POWER RESULTING IN A STALL. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO LEAN THE MIXTURE TO COMPENSATE FOR THE HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE, AND THE GROSS IMPROPER, INADEQUATE MAINTENANCE THAT HAD BEEN PERFORMED ON THE ENGINE RESULTING IN AN UNAIRWORTHY ENGINE.

Full Narrative

AFTER LIFTOFF, THE AIRPLANE APPEARED TO STOP CLIMBING AT ABOUT 90-100 FT AGL; ITS WINGS ROCKED SIDE-TO-SIDE, AND IT THEN PITCHED NOSE DOWN INTO THE GROUND. THE ENGINE WAS HEARD UNTIL IMPACT. MIXTURE CONTROL FOUND IN FULL RICH POSITION; DENSITY ALTITUDE APRX 5,000 FT. OIL STAIN FOUND NEAR PROP GOVERNOR; AD 90-04-06 AND LYCOMING SB NO. 488, PROP GOV LINE & ELBOW FITTING, NCW. ENGINE TEARDOWN SHOWED PROP GOV SCREEN BLOCKED WITH NUMEROUS CONTAMINANTS; METALLIC FLAKES ON OIL FILTER; CARB BODY DIRTY; CARB FLOAT ATTACH PIN WORN; PLUGS SHOWED RICH FUEL CONDITION; MAG TIMING 3 DEG OFF; INTAKE/EXHAUST ROCKER ARMS IMPROPERLY INSTALLED; PISTON RINGS WORN BEYOND LIFE LIMITS; NO.2 CYL TOP RING BROKEN; NUMEROUS ROD CAPS & BEARINGS INSTALLED BACKWARDS; ALL CRANK PINS WORN BEYOND SERVICE LIMITS; ALL MAIN BEARINGS WORN BEYOND SERVICE LIMITS. SERIAL NUMBER ON DATA PLATE DID NOT MATCH CASE NUMBER OF THE ENGINE. AIRPLANE WAS PURCHASED 1/23/90 BY THE PILOT.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time12:45 MST
Nearest AirportFABENS (0nm N)
Runway26
Runway Length4200 ft
Runway Width60 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA-24-180
Tail NumberN5354P
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
OperatorRufus C Cain
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-360-A1A · Reciprocating · 180
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury Summary3 injuries (2 fatalities, 1 serious injury)
Fatal2
Serious1
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total3
Crew 1Age 56 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind110° @ 3 kt
Visibility50 sm
CeilingBroken clouds 25000 ft
Temperature / Dew Point68 F / 34 C
Altimeter29.00 inHg
Observation Time19:53
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data