Piper PA-31T2 N85HB

Summary

On 24 August 1990 at about 10:33 local time, a Piper PA-31T2 registered N85HB, operated by Michael D. Spear, was involved in an accident near Mattapan, Massachusetts, United States. 3 people were on board and 3 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

24 August 1990 at 10:33

Classification

Accident

Location

Mattapan, Massachusetts, United States

Nearest airport

General Edward Lawrence Logan (BOS)

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

Piper PA-31T2

Registration

N85HB

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Michael D. Spear

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Chatham → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

IMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

NYC90FA199

3 people died.

THE PILOT'S IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT PLANNING/DECISION, WHICH RESULTED IN HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: FAILURE OF THE LEFT FUEL CONTROL UNIT, AND THE ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PLT NOTED AN OVER TORQUE CONDITION IN THE LEFT ENG AS THE ACFT WAS ON AN ILS APCH. HE MADE A GO-AROUND & INITIATED ANOTHER APCH WITH THE ENG SHUT DOWN. HE WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN ALT & THE ACFT BEGAN A DECENT THAT WAS NOT ARRESTED. SUBSEQUENTLY, IT CRASHED INTO 2 HOMES, APRX 6 MI FROM THE ARPT. AN EXAM OF THE LEFT ENG REVEALED THE DRIVE SHAFT FROM THE FUEL PUMP TO THE FUEL CONTROL WAS SHEARED AT THE PLASTIC COUPLING. FURTHER EXAM REVEALED THE TWIN BEARINGS THAT SUPPORTED THE DRIVESHAFT HAD FAILED. ALSO, THERE WAS EVIDENCE THE DRIVE SHAFT HAD SHIFTED & SUBSEQUENTLY AN OVERTORQUE CONDITION RESULTED.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.