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August 28, 1987 · Piper PA-28RT-201T PA-28RT-20 · N3025W

Kings Point, NY

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
August 28, 1987
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 fatality)
Location
Kings Point, NY
Aircraft
Piper PA-28RT-201T PA-28RT-20
Tail Number
N3025W
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
NYC87FA240

N3025W departed on a ferry flight with an unsecured, temporarily installed fuselage fuel tank. A computed C.G. at takeoff showed the aircraft about .9 inches aft of the aft limit. The aircraft had climbed to 7000 feet when the controller saw the aircraft making erratic turns. The pilot said 'We have problems.' There were no further communications with N3025W. The aircraft subsequently broke-up in flight. The forecast the pilot received included moderate turbulence and rainshowers. The ferry tank installation had not been approved. The pilot was new to this type of work and reportedly did not know how to work the ferry tank system. The takeoff position of the ferry tank was estimated. It had been pushing out the fuselage baggage door and had to be pushed back in after being filled. It was considered likely that the unsecured tank would have migrated, changing the C.G. in flight, altering longitudinal control forces, and causing pitch control problems in turbulence.

Full Narrative

N3025W DEPARTED ON A FERRY FLIGHT WITH AN UNSECURED, TEMPORARILY INSTALLED FUSELAGE FUEL TANK. A COMPUTED C.G. AT TAKEOFF SHOWED THE AIRCRAFT ABOUT .9 INCHES AFT OF THE AFT LIMIT. THE AIRCRAFT HAD CLIMBED TO 7000 FEET WHEN THE CONTROLLER SAW THE AIRCRAFT MAKING ERRATIC TURNS. THE PILOT SAID 'WE HAVE PROBLEMS.' THERE WERE NO FURTHER COMMUNICATIONS WITH N3025W. THE AIRCRAFT SUBSEQUENTLY BROKE-UP IN FLIGHT. THE FORECAST THE PILOT RECEIVED INCLUDED MODERATE TURBULENCE AND RAINSHOWERS. THE FERRY TANK INSTALLATION HAD NOT BEEN APPROVED. THE PILOT WAS NEW TO THIS TYPE OF WORK AND REPORTEDLY DID NOT KNOW HOW TO WORK THE FERRY TANK SYSTEM. THE TAKEOFF POSITION OF THE FERRY TANK WAS ESTIMATED. IT HAD BEEN PUSHING OUT THE FUSELAGE BAGGAGE DOOR AND HAD TO BE PUSHED BACK IN AFTER BEING FILLED. IT WAS CONSIDERED LIKELY THAT THE UNSECURED TANK WOULD HAVE MIGRATED, CHANGING THE C.G. IN FLIGHT, ALTERING LONGITUDINAL CONTROL FORCES, AND CAUSING PITCH CONTROL PROBLEMS IN TURBULENCE.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time12:21 EDT
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Runway Length0
Runway Width0
Flight Plan FiledIFR
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA-28RT-201T PA-28RT-20
Tail NumberN3025W
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · TSIO-360-FB · Reciprocating · 200
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 fatality)
Fatal1
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 46 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsIMC
LightDaylight
Wind80° @ 14 kt
Visibility2 sm
CeilingOvercast 600 ft
Temperature / Dew Point0 C / 0 C
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time16:18
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data