Piper PA-23-180 N173DC

Summary

On 3 October 2004 at about 20:20 local time, a Piper PA-23-180 registered N173DC was involved in an accident near Beatrice, Nebraska, United States. One person was on board and one was seriously injured. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

3 October 2004 at 20:20

Classification

Accident

Location

Beatrice, Nebraska, United States

Nearest airport

Beatrice Municipal Airport (BIE)

Coordinates

40.3014, -96.7542

Aircraft

Piper PA-23-180

Registration

N173DC

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Beatrice → Albany

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CHI05CA001

1 person was seriously injured.

The loss of right engine power undetermined reasons. Factors to the accident were the loss of engine power at a low altitude and below the single engine best rate of climb airspeed (Vyse), and the unsuitable terrain encountered during the subsequent forced landing.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The airplane was destroyed during a post-impact fire following a forced landing shortly after takeoff. The pilot had performed a precautionary landing after noticing the exhaust gas temperature indicator for the number one cylinder of the right engine showed elevated temperatures. The pilot called his mechanic to discuss the problem and they decided that "it was most likely an instrument or probe issue as there was no corroborating systems." The pilot fueled the main fuel tanks with 72 total gallons of fuel prior to departing BIE. The pilot reported that the winds favored runway 31. The pilot stated that he held the brakes as he increased power on both engines to 22 inches of manifold pressure. The pilot reported that he released the brakes and accelerated through redline and rotated without anomalies. The pilot stated that during initial climb, between 30 and 60 feet above ground level, he observed the right engine exhaust gas temperature "going through the high limit" which was followed by a "whooshing air sound and violent yaw to the right." The pilot reported that the airplane was "still low and slow" and it "never got to blue line [Vyse] or enough altitude to nose down for airspeed." The pilot stated that he did not have "enough altitude or climb power" to clear the power lines off the north side of the airport. The pilot reported that he did not have "enough airspeed for effective directional control" and he "continued shallow right turn with continued buffeting." The pilot stated he decided to land diagonally across highway 77. The aircraft impacted a highway embankment and a post-impact fire ensued. No discrepancies were found with either engine that would have prevented normal operation. A fuel sample was taken from the source that fueled the accident airplane prior to the accident. The fuel sample was examined and was void of visible contamination and/or water. Both propellers were found in the feathered position.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.