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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

November 15, 1989 · Piper PA-23-250 · N15LH

Pembroke Pines, FL

Overview

Report Status
Probable Cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
November 15, 1989
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 minor injury)
Location
Pembroke Pines, FL
Aircraft
Piper PA-23-250
Tail Number
N15LH
Operator
Hilderbrand Aero Services
Injuries
Minor
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
MIA90FA027

After takeoff, the acft was maneuvered downwind about 1/2 mi south of the arpt at aprx 1000' AGL. When the acft was abeam mid-field, the plt requested clnc to land back on the arpt. He was clrd for right traffic to land on rwy 9R & was asked if he had any difficulties. Subsequently, the plt replied that both engs had lost power. He turned toward the arpt, but was unable to reach the rwy. Drg an emerg landing, the acft hit a chain link fence & was extensively dmgd. An exam revealed there was water & residue in the fuel sys. The owner had purchased the previously seized acft at a sheriff's department sale. Until the day of the acdnt, the acft had not been refuel since it was last flown on 7/27/89. An annual inspn had been completed on 9/22/89. The acdnt flt was the 1st flt after the annual inspn & it lasted aprx 4 min. Neither prop was feathered after the engs lost power.

NTSB Probable Cause

INADEQUATE ANNUAL INSPECTION BY OTHER MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL AND INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT INSPECTION BY THE PILOT, WHICH RESULTED IN FAILURE TO DETECT WATER AND CONTAMINATION (RESIDUE) IN THE FUEL. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE: FAILURE OF THE PLT TO FEATHER THE PROPELLERS AND A FENCE IN THE EMERGENCY LANDING AREA.

Full Narrative

AFTER TAKEOFF, THE ACFT WAS MANEUVERED DOWNWIND ABOUT 1/2 MI SOUTH OF THE ARPT AT APRX 1000' AGL. WHEN THE ACFT WAS ABEAM MID-FIELD, THE PLT REQUESTED CLNC TO LAND BACK ON THE ARPT. HE WAS CLRD FOR RIGHT TRAFFIC TO LAND ON RWY 9R & WAS ASKED IF HE HAD ANY DIFFICULTIES. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE PLT REPLIED THAT BOTH ENGS HAD LOST POWER. HE TURNED TOWARD THE ARPT, BUT WAS UNABLE TO REACH THE RWY. DRG AN EMERG LANDING, THE ACFT HIT A CHAIN LINK FENCE & WAS EXTENSIVELY DMGD.AN EXAM REVEALED THERE WAS WATER & RESIDUE IN THE FUEL SYS. THE OWNER HAD PURCHASED THE PREVIOUSLY SEIZED ACFT AT A SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT SALE. UNTIL THE DAY OF THE ACDNT, THE ACFT HAD NOT BEEN REFUEL SINCE IT WAS LAST FLOWN ON 7/27/89. AN ANNUAL INSPN HAD BEEN COMPLETED ON 9/22/89. THE ACDNT FLT WAS THE 1ST FLT AFTER THE ANNUAL INSPN & IT LASTED APRX 4 MIN. NEITHER PROP WAS FEATHERED AFTER THE ENGS LOST POWER.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time13:04 EST
Nearest AirportNorth Perry (1nm W)
Runway9R
Runway Length3000 ft
Runway Width100 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA-23-250
Tail NumberN15LH
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
OperatorHilderbrand Aero Services
Operating RulePart 91
Engines2
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · IO-540 · Reciprocating · 250
Seats6

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 minor injury)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor1
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 31 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind120° @ 9 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Altimeter29.00 inHg
Observation Time22:48
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data