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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

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June 14, 1982 · Piper PA-23-160 · N4072P

Atlanta, GA

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
June 14, 1982
Injury Outcomes
2 injuries (2 serious injuries), 1 unknown outcome
Location
Atlanta, GA
Aircraft
Piper PA-23-160
Tail Number
N4072P
Operator
Mark Hewlett
Injuries
Serious
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
ATL82FA163

Shortly after takeoff, a loud noise was heard and sparks were observed coming from the right side of the right engine. The aircrew attempted to feather the right engine, but it would not feather. They were unable to maintain altitude and descended into trees. After striking trees, the plane came to rest on the roof of a house. The aircraft burst into flames about 5 to 10 minutes after the crash. A police officer that had responded and had climbed onto the roof was reportedly thrown off by an explosion. He received minor injuries. An examination of the right engine revealed that one blade of the model HC-82XG propeller did not feather and was free to move. The retaining clamp on this blade was cracked and had a portion missing. A metallurgical examination revealed that it had failed from high cycle fatigue. Hartzell Propeller Service Bulletin, No 126, dated 12/9/80, recommended that this clamp (an old model) be replaced by a new improved type. No other preimpact failures were found.

Full Narrative

SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF, A LOUD NOISE WAS HEARD AND SPARKS WERE OBSERVED COMING FROM THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE RIGHT ENGINE. THE AIRCREW ATTEMPTED TO FEATHER THE RIGHT ENGINE, BUT IT WOULD NOT FEATHER. THEY WERE UNABLE TO MAINTAIN ALTITUDE AND DESCENDED INTO TREES. AFTER STRIKING TREES, THE PLANE CAME TO REST ON THE ROOF OF A HOUSE. THE AIRCRAFT BURST INTO FLAMES ABOUT 5 TO 10 MIN AFTER THE CRASH. A POLICE OFFICER THAT HAD RESPONDED AND HAD CLIMBED ONTO THE ROOF WAS REPORTEDLY THROWN OFF BY AN EXPLOSION. HE RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES. AN EXAMINATION OF THE RIGHT ENGINE REVEALED THAT ONE BLADE OF THE MODEL HC-82XG PROPELLER DID NOT FEATHER AND WAS FREE TO MOVE. THE RETAINING CLAMP ON THIS BLADE WAS CRACKED AND HAD A PORTION MISSING. A METALLURGICAL EXAMINATION REVEALED THAT IT HAD FAILED FROM HIGH CYCLE FATIGUE. HARTZELL PROPELLER SERVICE BULLETIN, NO 126, DATED 12/9/80, RECOMMENDED THAT THIS CLAMP (AN OLD MODEL) BE REPLACED BY A NEW IMPROVED TYPE. NO OTHER PREIMPACT FAILURES WERE FOUND.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time16:49 EDT
Nearest AirportPeachtree-Dekalb (0nm N)
Runway9
Runway Length3378 ft
Runway Width150 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireGrd
Aircraft ExplosionGrd

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA-23-160
Tail NumberN4072P
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
OperatorMark Hewlett
Operating RulePart 91
Engines2
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-320-B3B · Reciprocating · 160
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury Summary2 injuries (2 serious injuries), 1 unknown outcome
Fatal0
Serious2
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total3
Crew 1Age 22 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind340° @ 7 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point18 C / 0 C
Altimeter30.00 inHg

Appendix: Source Data