Piper PA-32 N5568J

Summary

On 1 December 2015 at about 15:37 local time, a Piper PA-32 registered N5568J was involved in an accident near Opa Locka, Florida, United States. 3 people were on board and 3 were seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

1 December 2015 at 15:37

Classification

Accident

Location

Opa Locka, Florida, United States

Nearest airport

Opa Locka (KOPF)

Coordinates

25.8972, -80.0892

Aircraft

Piper PA-32

Registration

N5568J

Category

Airplane

Year built

1968

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Opa Locka → South Bimini

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA16LA053

3 people were seriously injured.

Maintenance personnel's inadequate inspection of the exhaust system, which resulted in the escape of exhaust gases into the engine compartment and a subsequent total loss of engine power.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The private pilot stated that the airplane was climbing through about 800 ft after takeoff when light smoke appeared from the instrument panel and windscreen area. The pilot began a turn back toward the airport, and, almost immediately, the engine experienced a total loss of power. The pilot performed an off-airport forced landing, the airplane struck a parked tractor-trailer, and came to rest inverted on a berm. Subsequent examination of the airplane revealed soot and char marks on the left side of the engine cowling and in the engine compartment. The muffler's left sidewall displayed metal erosion and a wall breach that allowed exhaust gas to leak into the engine compartment. The engine fuel lines exhibited thermal damage but were not compromised. The front of the carburetor was charred, and some magneto leads were burned. The exact means by which the engine lost power could not be determined, but the intense heat of the exhaust gas could have burned off fuel in the carburetor, created a vapor lock in the fuel lines, or interrupted spark to the cylinders. Further examination of the muffler revealed that the right sidewall was thin and rusted and had small erosion holes. The accident occurred less than 8 hours of operation after the airplane's most recent annual/100-hour inspection. Manufacturer-mandated inspection criteria required particular attention be paid to the exhaust system, especially fatigue-prone areas such as the muffler sidewalls. Given the degree of preexisting deterioration noted, it is likely that the exhaust system was not properly inspected during the last inspection.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.