Piper PA-32-300 N444NM

Summary

On 2 March 2005 at about 16:37 local time, a Piper PA-32-300 registered N444NM, operated by Richard V. Mailloux, was involved in an accident near Dunnellon, Florida, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 were seriously injured. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

2 March 2005 at 16:37

Classification

Accident

Location

Dunnellon, Florida, United States

Nearest airport

Twelve Oaks Airport (5FL7)

Coordinates

28.9667, -82.3500

Aircraft

Piper PA-32-300

Registration

N444NM

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Richard V. Mailloux

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Hernando → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ANC05FA039

2 people were seriously injured.

The improper installation of the bolt that connects the throttle linkage to the fuel control arm by an unknown maintenance person, which resulted in a loss of the bolt, a loss of engine rpm control, and subsequent forced landing and collision with trees.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The private pilot, with his adult son aboard, departed on a local area flight, with a return to the private fly-in community. After the initial climb, the pilot attempted to retard the throttle to a cruise power setting, but was unable to control the airplane's engine rpm with the throttle, and the engine rpm remained at takeoff power. He subsequently elected to return to the departure airport for an emergency landing. The airplane touched down with the engine still producing takeoff power, and the pilot decided to abort the landing. As the airplane began to climb, the engine rpm began to decrease and lose power, and the pilot selected an emergency landing area that contained 75-foot tall trees. The airplane collided with the trees, and sustained extensive damage to the wings, fuselage, and empennage. A postimpact fire ensued, with both the pilot and passenger trapped inside of the burning fuselage. The pilot's son was able to free the pilot before the airplane was consumed by fire. A postaccident engine examination revealed that the bolt that connects the throttle linkage to the fuel control arm was missing, and the throttle linkage was disconnected. According to an FAA airworthiness inspector who reviewed the accident airplane's maintenance logbooks, there was no entry in the logbook indicating that any maintenance or repairs had been conducted on the throttle linkage to the fuel control arm.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.