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April 28, 1984 · Piper PA-34-200 · N1027U

Smyrna, TN

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
April 28, 1984
Injury Outcomes
3 injuries (1 serious injury, 2 minor injuries), 1 uninjured
Location
Smyrna, TN
Aircraft
Piper PA-34-200
Tail Number
N1027U
Injuries
Serious
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
ATL84LA153

The CFI simulated an engine failure on the right engine during takeoff after having simulated a left engine failure during the landing approach. The left engine failure was simulated with the left throttle retarded during the approach and landing. After the throttles were advanced for takeoff, the CFI simulated right engine failure at 85 mph by using the mixture to idle cut off. When the student responded by closing both throttles to land straight ahead, mixtures and throttles were then reportedly advanced and the aircraft climbed to 100 ft at 100 mph. A witness reported the aircraft with the right wing high, drifting left, and then suddenly leveling the wings and nose down to ground contact. The CFI said he took over at 85 mph as the aircraft turned left, rolled both wings level, closed both throttles and landed off the runway. The landing gear was coming up at touchdown. The CFI thought the left engine may have loaded up and not responded during the last takeoff.

Full Narrative

THE CFI SIMULATED AN ENGINE FAILURE ON THE RIGHT ENGINE DURING TAKEOFF AFTER HAVING SIMULATED A LEFT ENGINE FAILURE DURING THE LANDING APPROACH. THE LEFT ENGINE FAILURE WAS SIMULATED WITH THE LEFT THROTTLE RETARDED DURING THE APPROACH AND LANDING. AFTER THE THROTTLES WERE ADVANCED FOR TAKEOFF THE CFI SIMULATED RIGHT ENGINE FAILURE AT 85 MPH BY USING THEMIXTURE TO IDLE CUT OFF. WHEN THE STUDENT RESPONDED BY CLOSING BOTH THROTTLES TO LAND STRAIGHT AHEAD. MIXTURES AND THROTTLES WERE THEN REPORTEDLY ADVANCED AND THE ACFT CLIMBED TO 100 FT AT 100 MPH. A WITNESS REPORTED THE ACFT WITH THE RIGHT WING HIGH, DRIFTING LEFT, AND THEN SUDDENLY LEVELING THE WINGS AND NOSE DOWN TO GROUND CONTACT. THE CFI SAID HE TOOK OVER AT 85 MPH AS THE ACFT TURNED LEFT, ROLLED BOTH WINGS LEVEL, CLOSED BOTH THROTTLES AND LANDED OFF THE RWY. THE LANDING GEAR WAS COMING UP AT TOUCHDOWN. THE CFI THOUGHT THE LEFT ENGINE MAY HAVE LOADED UP AND NOT RESPONDED DURING THE LAST TAKEOFF.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time16:30 CST
Nearest AirportSMYRNA (0nm N)
Runway32
Runway Length8037 ft
Runway Width150 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA-34-200
Tail NumberN1027U
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines2
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · IO-360-C1E6 · Reciprocating · 200
Seats6

People & Injuries

Injury Summary3 injuries (1 serious injury, 2 minor injuries), 1 uninjured
Fatal0
Serious1
Minor2
Uninjured1
Total4
Crew 1Age 24 · Unknown

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind110° @ 2 kt
Visibility15 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point61 F
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time22:00
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data