Piper PA-22-150 N5706D

Summary

On 6 January 2011 at about 19:30 local time, a Piper PA-22-150 registered N5706D, operated by Reese Lonnie E, was involved in an accident near Thomaston, Georgia, 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

6 January 2011 at 19:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Thomaston, Georgia, United States

Nearest airport

Thomaston-Upson County Airport (OPN)

Coordinates

32.9589, -84.2817

Aircraft

Piper PA-22-150

Registration

N5706D

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Reese Lonnie E

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Thomaston → Warm Springs

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA11CA108

Nobody was injured.

The mechanic's failure to install a cotter retaining pin in the throttle arm retaining nut resulting in excessive throttle play and loss of engine power control.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

According to the pilot, the airplane had returned to service after being restored by an airframe and powerplant mechanic with inspection authorization. The pilot performed several takeoffs and landings prior to the accident flight, and noted that the airplane seemed to operate normally. The pilot departed to another airport where he completed a simulated instrument approach to about 50 feet above the runway. He then commenced a go-around over the departure end of the runway with the airplane about 300 feet above the ground. The engine experienced a partial loss of power and the pilot maneuvered the airplane a hay field, where he performed a forced landing. During the landing roll, the horizontal stabilizer struck a hay bale resulting in substantial damage to the empennage. A postaccident examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that a cotter pin was not installed on the throttle arm retaining nut. The throttle arm retaining nut was finger tight and the throttle arm was loose, which resulted in excessive play in the throttle linkage.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.