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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

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February 5, 1982 · Piper PA-28-140 · N721FL

Ellington, CT

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
February 5, 1982
Injury Outcomes
2 injuries (1 serious injury, 1 minor injury)
Location
Ellington, CT
Aircraft
Piper PA-28-140
Tail Number
N721FL
Operator
Marshall Bagg
Injuries
Serious
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
NYC82FNE03

The aircraft was allowed to warm up for 5 to 10 minutes at the end of the runway before takeoff. The instructor pilot (IP) reported that the before takeoff run-up was made by using the checklist and all engine instruments were in-the-green. He reported that during takeoff, the aircraft reached about 125 ft AGL when the engine stopped, then started and stopped two times. He took control of the aircraft from the student and turned to the left to land in an open field. Before landing, he saw a telephone line, and attempted to avoid the line and a pole by flying under the wire while turning right. However, the left wing struck the pole. An examination of the engine revealed excessive soot on the spark plugs of the No. 1 and 2 cylinders. An inspection of the carburetor revealed that an improper nozzle had been installed. During an operational check, the engine ran at 2400 RPM at full right and would increase to 2500 RPM when leaned. Also, excessive popping noises were noted when it was operated at full rich.

Full Narrative

THE AIRCRAFT WAS ALLOWED TO WARM UP FOR 5 TO 10 MINUTES AT END OF THE RUNWAY BEFORE TAKEOFF. THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT (IP) REPORTED THAT THE BEFORE TAKEOFF RUN-UP WAS MADE BY USING THE CHECKLIST AND ALL ENGINE INSTRUMENTS WERE IN-THE-GREEN. HE REPORTED THAT DURING TAKEOFF, THE AIRCRAFT REACHED ABOUT 125 FT AGL WHEN THE ENGINE STOPPED, THEN STARTED AND TWO TIMES. HE TOOK CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT FROM THE STUDENT AND TURNED TO THE LEFT TO LAND IN AN OPEN FIELD. BEFORE LANDING, HE SAW A TELEPHONE LINE, AND ATTEMPTED TO AVOID THE LINE AND A POLE BY FLYING UNDER THE WIRE WHILE TURNING RIGHT. HOWEVER, THE LEFT WING STRUCK THE POLE. AN EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED EXCESSIVE SOOT ON THE SPARK PLUGS OF THE NO. 1 AND 2 CYLINDERS. AN INSPECTION OF THE CARBURETOR REVEALED THAT AN IMPROPER NOZZLE HAD BEEN INSTALLED. DURING AN OPERATIONAL CHECK, THE ENGINE RAN AT 2400 RPM AT FULL RIGHT WOULD INCREASE TO 2500 RPM WHEN LEANED. ALSO, EXCESSIVE POPPING NOISES WERE NOTED WHEN IT WAS OPERATED AT FULL RICH.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time09:30 EST
Nearest AirportEllington (0nm N)
Runway1
Runway Length1900 ft
Runway Width50 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA-28-140
Tail NumberN721FL
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorMarshall Bagg
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-235 · Reciprocating · 115
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury Summary2 injuries (1 serious injury, 1 minor injury)
Fatal0
Serious1
Minor1
Uninjured0
Total2
Crew 1Age 24 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind240° @ 10 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingBroken clouds 1200 ft
Temperature / Dew Point0 C
Altimeter30.00 inHg

Appendix: Source Data