Piper PA-28R-200 N16438

Summary

On 13 March 2003 at about 19:05 local time, a Piper PA-28R-200 registered N16438 was involved in an accident near Delta, Colorado, United States. 2 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

13 March 2003 at 19:05

Classification

Accident

Location

Delta, Colorado, United States

Coordinates

38.7067, -108.1503

Aircraft

Piper PA-28R-200

Registration

N16438

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Flight Test

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Montrose → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

DEN03LA050

Nobody was injured.

the loss of engine power due to company maintenance personnel's inadequate major engine overhaul (an oil pressure fitting in the engine accessory drive case had not been capped). Contributing factors were the loss of engine oil, and lack of suitable terrain for a forced landing.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The airplane's engine had just been overhauled, and this was the initial flight test. The pilot said the airplane was performing normally, then the engine speed (rpm) increased to red line. He adjusted the prop control to compensate for the high engine rpm, but the engine stopped. The pilot then told the pilot-flying that he had control of the airplane. He proceeded to shut the fuel off, and selected a field for the forced landing. He stabilized the airplane at best glide airspeed, and subsequently the landing gear automatically deployed. The pilot selected a secondary landing site, which was on the back side of a hill. The airplane bounced several times while "rapidly" descending down the hill. The airplane came to rest with the nose gear and left main gear collapsed. Additionally, the left wing spar and firewall were bent. A postaccident examination of the engine showed that one oil pressure fitting in the engine accessory drive case had not been capped.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.