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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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September 20, 1986 · Piper PA-23-250 · N6041Y

Montgomery, AL

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
September 20, 1986
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (2 uninjured)
Location
Montgomery, AL
Aircraft
Piper PA-23-250
Tail Number
N6041Y
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
ATL86LA260

DURING INITIAL CLIMB PHASE OF AN EXPERIMENTAL FLT FROM MGM, AL, THE PLT RPTED THAT THE LEFT ENGINE HAD FAILED AND AN ATTEMPT WAS MADE TO FEATHER THE PROP. THE PLT RADIOED DANNELLY TOWER THAT THE ACFT WAS RETURNING TO THE ARPT. THEN THE PLT RPTED THAT THE RIGHT ENGINE LOST THRUST, HOWEVER THE RIGHT PROP WAS NOT FEATHERED BECAUSE HE WAS NOT SURE IF THE ENGINE WAS PRODUCING POWER. A GEAR-UP FORCED LANDING WAS MADE ON A 4-LANE HIGHWAY. THE ACFT ENGINES WERE FUELED WITH ALCOHOL WITH APPROVAL OF THE FAA FOR RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT. THREE DAYS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT THE ACFT EXPERIENCED POWER SURGES AND MADE A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING. NO PROBLEMS WERE FOUND AND THE FLIGHT WAS CONTINUED. INSPECTION OF THE ACFT REVEALED THE RIGHT PROP FEATHERED AND THE LEFT PROP IN LOW PITCH. THE ACFT WGT AND BAL INDICATED APPROX. 400# OVER GROSS WEIGHT. THE ENGINES WERE SUCCESSFULLY TEST RUN. THERE HAS BEEN NO DETERMINATION AS TO THE CAUSE OF THE RPTED ENGINE FAILURES.

Full Narrative

DURING INITIAL CLIMB PHASE OF AN EXPERIMENTAL FLT FROM MGM, AL, THE PLT RPTED THAT THE LEFT ENGINE HAD FAILED AND AN ATTEMPT WAS MADE TO FEATHER THE PROP. THE PLT RADIOED DANNELLY TOWER THAT THE ACFT WAS RETURNING TO THE ARPT. THEN THE PLT RPTED THAT THE RIGHT ENGINE LOST THRUST, HOWEVER THE RIGHT PROP WAS NOT FEATHERED BECAUSE HE WAS NOT SURE IF THE ENGINE WAS PRODUCING POWER. A GEAR-UP FORCED LANDING WAS MADE ON A 4-LANE HIGHWAY. THE ACFT ENGINES WERE FUELED WITH ALCOHOL WITH APPROVAL OF THE FAA FOR RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT. THREE DAYS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT THE ACFT EXPERIENCED POWER SURGES AND MADE A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING. NO PROBLEMS WERE FOUND AND THE FLIGHT WAS CONTINUED. INSPECTION OF THE ACFT REVEALED THE RIGHT PROP FEATHERED AND THE LEFT PROP IN LOW PITCH. THE ACFT WGT AND BAL INDICATED APPROX. 400# OVER GROSS WEIGHT. THE ENGINES WERE SUCCESSFULLY TEST RUN. THERE HAS BEEN NO DETERMINATION AS TO THE CAUSE OF THE RPTED ENGINE FAILURES.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time10:22 CDT
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Runway Length0
Runway Width0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA-23-250
Tail NumberN6041Y
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines2
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · IO-540-C4B5 · Reciprocating · 250
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (2 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured2
Total2
Crew 1Age 50 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind120° @ 3 kt
Visibility6 sm
CeilingBroken clouds 25000 ft
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time15:49
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data