Piper PA-34-200 N55210

Summary

On 24 August 2002 at about 14:00 local time, a Piper PA-34-200 registered N55210, operated by Griffin Flight Center Incorporated, was involved in an accident near Peachtree City, Georgia, United States. 4 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

24 August 2002 at 14:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Peachtree City, Georgia, United States

Nearest airport

Peachtree City-Falcon Field (FFC)

Coordinates

33.3572, -84.5717

Aircraft

Piper PA-34-200

Registration

N55210

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Griffin Flight Center Incorporated

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Peachtree City → Peachtree City

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ATL02LA161

Nobody was injured.

The certified flight instructors failure to feather the propeller in accordance with operating procedures that resulted in loss of altitude and the in-flight collision with terrain.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

A certified flight instructor was instructing steep turns, VMC, and engine out procedures. The CFI instructed the student to shut down the left engine for training purposes. After several unsuccessful attempts to restart the engine the CFI took command of the airplane. No mention was made by the CFI or the pilot to secure the engine and feather the propeller after it became apparent that the engine would not restart. The airplane was unable to maintain altitude. The CFI radioed "mayday" and preformed an off field landing. Examination of the engine revealed that the left engine started and operated normally. The propeller governor was inspected and functioned properly. Review of the approved Aircraft Flight Manual stated the airplane should have been able to climb at a rate of 190 feet per minute at sea level with the propeller feathered. Section VB-423 page 3-11, 3-12 of the Piper PA-34-200 information manual states the emergency procedures for feathering, and fuel management during single engine operation. No mechanical or flight control malfunction were discovered during the examination of the airplane.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.