Piper PA-28-180 N55854

Summary

On 5 May 2003 at about 03:00 local time, a Piper PA-28-180 registered N55854 was involved in an accident near Montgomery, New York, 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

5 May 2003 at 03:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Montgomery, New York, United States

Nearest airport

Orange County Airport (MGJ)

Coordinates

41.5097, -74.2644

Aircraft

Piper PA-28-180

Registration

N55854

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Montgomery → Newburgh

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Night/Dark

NTSB number

NYC03LA096

Nobody was injured.

The inadequate 100-hour inspection by maintenance personnel, which resulted in a loose fuel line and loss of power. A factor related to the accident was the dark night conditions.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

During the nighttime departure, the airplane accelerated normally, with the engine producing full power during the takeoff roll and initial climb. Upon reaching approximately 300 to 400 feet above the ground, the engine began to lose power. The CFI took the flight controls and performed a forced landing. During the landing rollout, the airplane rolled through a shallow drainage swale, collapsing the nose and right main gear assemblies. The airplane rotated to the right and came to rest upright. Examination of the wreckage revealed that the fuel line, which ran between the fuel pump and the carburetor, was loose at the connection point on the carburetor. When the electric fuel pump was activated, fuel was observed spraying from the connection point. The airplane had accumulated about 20 hours of operation since a 100-hour inspection was performed 10 days prior to the accident. According to 14 CFR Part 43 Appendix D - Scope and Detail of Items (as Applicable to the Particular Aircraft) To Be Included in Annual and 100 Hour Inspections, "Each person performing an annual or 100 hour inspection shall inspect (where applicable) components of the engine and nacelle group..."

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.