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September 30, 2024 · Piper PA32 300 · N31407

Caro, MI

Overview

Report Status
Factual report
Event Type
Accident
Date
September 30, 2024
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (1 uninjured)
Location
Caro, MI
Aircraft
Piper PA32 300
Tail Number
N31407
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
CEN24LA378

On September 30, 2024, about 1630 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-32-300 airplane, N31407, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Caro, Michigan. The pilot was uninjured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 maintenance flight. According to the pilot, the airplane had just completed a two-year maintenance event to Inspect, Repair as Necessary (IRAN) the Lycoming IO-540-K1G5 reciprocating engine. During the IRAN, the engine crankcase was repaired due to a bearing failure, magnetos overhauled, and the fuel injection servo was replaced twice. On the day of the accident, the pilot’s mechanic had informed him that he needed to complete about five hours of flight time so the mechanic could inspect and fix any maintenance issues. The pilot stated that the takeoff and climb into the downwind leg was normal and that he was going to complete a traffic pattern back to Runway 6. During the downwind leg before reducing engine power to near idle and starting a descent, he noticed that the fuel flow indicator reading had dropped from 18 to 14 gallons-per-hour. The pilot stated there were no further abnormal indications from the engine until he tried to increase engine power on an extended two-mile final approach to runway 6. The engine did not respond to engine throttle control movements and the airplane subsequently had a complete loss of engine power. The pilot realized that he would not make the runway due to the distance and performed a forced off field landing. During the forced landing, the pilot dove the airplane to gain airspeed to clear a tree line on the approach end of runway 6. The pilot stated that he held the airplane at the stall horn to clear the trees and hit the ground hard. The airplane bounced, the left main landing gear separated, and the airplane impacted the ground a second time a few hundred feet later. The airplane then slid and came to rest in a ditch abeam the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right horizontal stabilizer and both wings. The wreckage was retained for further examination.

Full Narrative

On September 30, 2024, about 1630 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-32-300 airplane, N31407, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Caro, Michigan. The pilot was uninjured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 maintenance flight. According to the pilot, the airplane had just completed a two-year maintenance event to Inspect, Repair as Necessary (IRAN) the Lycoming IO-540-K1G5 reciprocating engine. During the IRAN, the engine crankcase was repaired due to a bearing failure, magnetos overhauled, and the fuel injection servo was replaced twice. On the day of the accident, the pilot’s mechanic had informed him that he needed to complete about five hours of flight time so the mechanic could inspect and fix any maintenance issues. The pilot stated that the takeoff and climb into the downwind leg was normal and that he was going to complete a traffic pattern back to Runway 6. During the downwind leg before reducing engine power to near idle and starting a decent, he noticed that the fuel flow indicator reading had dropped from 18 to 14 gallons-per-hour. The pilot stated there were no further abnormal indications from the engine until he tried to increase engine power on an extended two-mile final approach to runway 6. The engine did not respond to engine throttle control movements and the airplane subsequently had a complete loss of engine power. The pilot realized that he would not make the runway due to the distance and performed a forced off field landing. During the forced landing, the pilot dove the airplane to gain airspeed to clear a tree line on the approach end of runway 6. The pilot stated that he held the airplane at the stall horn to clear the trees and hit the ground hard. The airplane bounced, the left main landing gear separated, and the airplane impacted the ground a second time a few hundred feet later. The airplane then slid and came to rest in a ditch abeam the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right horizontal stabilizer and both wings. The wreckage was retained for further examination.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time12:30 EDT
Nearest Airport0nm
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA32 300
Tail NumberN31407
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (1 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total1

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind110° @ 6 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point57 F
Altimeter29.99 inHg
Observation Time16:35
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data