Piper PA34 N999CR

Summary

On 5 May 2019 at about 12:30 local time, a Piper PA34 registered N999CR, operated by SPC Leasing LLC, was involved in an accident near Anderson, Indiana, United States. One person was on board and one was seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

5 May 2019 at 12:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Anderson, Indiana, United States

Nearest airport

Anderson Muni-Darlington Field (AID)

Coordinates

40.1086, -85.6131

Aircraft

Piper PA34

Registration

N999CR

Category

Airplane

Operator

SPC Leasing LLC

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Anderson → Huntington

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN19FA135

1 person was seriously injured.

The loss of left engine power due to an incorrectly adjusted fuel servo and the airplane's nose up trim which resulted in the airplane steep climb, loss of airspeed, and aerodynamic stall and subsequent impact with terrain.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot planned to ferry the twin-engine airplane to another airport for the annual maintenance inspection. Several witnesses saw the airplane's departure. Two of the witness reported that the airplane engines didn't sound "normal".  Several witnesses reported that the airplane appeared to pitch up, before stalling. A video from the airport's security camera revealed that the airplane appeared to climb steeply; the airplane's wings rocked back-and-forth, and the airplane disappeared out of view. When the airplane reappeared in the camera's view, the airplane was in a descent with the left wing low. The airplane collided with terrain and the airplane cabin area was largely destroyed by the impact. Examination of the airplane found the stabilator trim actuator screw was near its maximum nose up setting.  The left engine was removed from the airframe and tested in the engine manufacturers test cell. The engine test run reveled the engine did not produce full rated horsepower and on occasions produced black exhaust which was indicative of a rich fuel air mixture. The fuel servo was replaced with a new unit and the engine was able to produce rated horsepower. Further examination of the original fuel servo showed that the control linkage (rod and link assembly), was installed incorrectly.  The accident is consistent with loss of power on the left engine due to an incorrectly installed fuel servo and an excessive nose up trim setting, which resulted in steep climb angle, a loss of airspeed, and an aerodynamic stall.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.