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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

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December 29, 1985 · Piper PA-31-325 · N27842

Junction, TX

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
December 29, 1985
Injury Outcomes
2 injuries (1 serious injury, 1 minor injury), 5 uninjured
Location
Junction, TX
Aircraft
Piper PA-31-325
Tail Number
N27842
Injuries
Serious
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
FTW86LA029

During initial climb after takeoff, the pilot noticed oil streaming out from the oil filler access door on the right engine cowling. He elected to continue climbing and make a tear drop turn back to the airport and land in the opposite direction from which he had departed. He announced his intentions on UNICOM radio. Another pilot responded that he was presently on the runway but would clear it as soon as possible. The subject pilot then decided to make a go around. During this time, the right front seat passenger stated he observed flames in the right engine cowl. The pilot shut down the engine and feathered the propeller. He added full power to the left engine and retracted the landing gear and flaps. He was unable to maintain altitude and decided to make a forced landing straight ahead in an open field. He had to pull up once to avoid a power line and maneuver to avoid an antenna. He made a successful forced landing and all occupants exited. The flames quickly spread and the aircraft was consumed by ground fire.

Full Narrative

DURING INITIAL CLIMB AFTER TAKEOFF THE PILOT NOTICED OIL STREAMING OUT FROM THE OIL FILLER ACCESS DOOR ON THE RIGHT ENGINE COWLING. HE ELECTED TO CONTINUE CLIMBING AND MAKE A TEAR DROP TURN BACK TO THE AIRPORT AND LAND IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION FROM WHICH HE HAD DEPARTED.HE ANNOUNCED HIS INTENTIONS ON UNICOM RADIO.ANOTHER PILOT RESPONDED THAT HE WAS PRESENTLY ON THE RUNWAY BUT WOULD CLEAR IT AS SOON AS POSIBLE. THE SUBJECT PILOT THEN DECIDED TO MAKE A GO AROUND. DURING THIS TIME THE RIGHT FRONT SEAT PASSENGER STATED HE OBSERVED FLAMES IN THE RIGHT ENGINE COWL.THE PILOIT SHUT DOWN THE ENGINE AND FEATHERED THE PROPELLER.HE ADDED FULL POWER TO THE LEFT ENGINE AND RETRACTED THE LANDING GEAR AND FLAPS.HE WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN ALTITUDE AND DECIDED TO MAKE A FORCED LANDING STRAIGHT AHEAD IN AN OPEN FIELD.HE HAD TO PULL UP ONCE TO AVOID A POWER LINE AND MANEUVER TO AVOID AN ANTENNA.HE MADE A SUCCESSFUL FORCED LANDING AND ALL OCCUPANTS EXITED.THE FLAMES QUICKLY SPREAD AND THE AIRCRAFT WAS CONSUMED BY GROUND FIRE.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time16:30 CST
Nearest AirportKimble Co. (1nm WNW)
Runway0
Runway Length0
Runway Width0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireGrd
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA-31-325
Tail NumberN27842
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
Operating RulePart 91
Engines2
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · TIO-540-F2BD · Reciprocating · 325
Seats8

People & Injuries

Injury Summary2 injuries (1 serious injury, 1 minor injury), 5 uninjured
Fatal0
Serious1
Minor1
Uninjured5
Total7
Crew 1Age 36 · First Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind180° @ 8 kt
Visibility20 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point61 F / 0 C
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Weather SourcePILO

Appendix: Source Data