Piper PA 28-140 N4666R

Summary

On 20 January 2015 at about 19:20 local time, a Piper PA 28-140 registered N4666R was involved in an accident near Helena, Montana, United States. 2 people were on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

20 January 2015 at 19:20

Classification

Accident

Location

Helena, Montana, United States

Nearest airport

Helena Rgnl (HLN)

Coordinates

46.6033, -112.0106

Aircraft

Piper PA 28-140

Registration

N4666R

Category

Airplane

Year built

1966

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Helena → Missoula

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR15LA087

1 person had minor injuries.

Loss of engine power after takeoff for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examination did not reveal any evidence of an anomaly that would have precluded normal operation.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The private pilot reported that a preflight inspection and engine run-up revealed no anomalies; however, during the initial climb after takeoff, the engine was not developing full power. The pilot initiated a shallow left turn back to the runway, but the airplane was not able to maintain altitude or airspeed and subsequently impacted a house. A postaccident examination of the airframe and engine did not reveal any mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation, and the reason for the loss of engine power could not be determined.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.