Piper PA-32RT-300T N21433

Summary

On 23 November 1997 at about 23:00 local time, a Piper PA-32RT-300T registered N21433 was involved in an accident near Midlothian, Texas, United States. 4 people were on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

23 November 1997 at 23:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Midlothian, Texas, United States

Coordinates

32.4893, -96.9907

Aircraft

Piper PA-32RT-300T

Registration

N21433

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Houston → Arlington

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

FTW98LA055

1 person had minor injuries.

fatigue failure of the #2 cylinder fuel injection line in an area where the line was previously damaged, which resulted in an in-flight engine compartment fire and a forced landing. Related factors were: the previous damage of the fuel injector line, and the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The aircraft was descending from 8,500 feet, when the pilot 'felt the airplane shutter and begin to sound slightly rough.' The pilot observed that the manifold pressure had dropped 'slightly,' and the fuel flow gauge dropped from '21 to 10 gph.' The pilot maintained a 'slow' descent, turned the boost pump on, and switched to a different fuel tank. There was an increase in engine manifold pressure, and the fuel flow increased to 15 gph. Smoke entered the cockpit as the airplane descended through 2,500 feet, and the pilot 'noticed flames coming from the engine cowling vents.' The pilot initiated a forced landing to a grass field. During the landing roll, the left wing struck a tree, and the airplane went through two fences, crossed a road, then came to rest in a plowed field. Examination of the engine revealed that the #2 cylinder fuel injector line had broken, and 'sprayed fuel onto the turbocharger.' Examination of the fuel injector line revealed that the separation was the result of fatigue cracking which initiated from a damaged area on the fuel line. Airworthiness Directive 93-02-05 (which required an inspection of the fuel injector fuel lines) was complied with 39 flight hours before the accident.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.