Piper PA46 N4385K

Summary

On 4 October 2019 at about 21:13 local time, a Piper PA46 registered N4385K was involved in an accident near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 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

4 October 2019 at 21:13

Classification

Accident

Location

Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, United States

Nearest airport

Harrisburg Intl (MDT)

Coordinates

40.1761, -76.7269

Aircraft

Piper PA46

Registration

N4385K

Category

Airplane

Year built

1984

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Rochester → Harrisburg

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA20LA011

2 people had minor injuries.

A total loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined following a successful engine run.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that he was performing a visual approach for landing when the engine lost total power. Unable to restore engine power, the pilot performed a forced landing to a river. After recovery, the external engine components were dried, cleaned, and reinstalled (magnetos, fuel manifold), and the starter was replaced due to water immersion. The engine was then placed in a test cell where it started immediately, accelerated smoothly, and ran continuously without interruption. Radar and on-board data revealed that the airplane experienced lateral g-forces in the turn to final and during its approach in a gusting crosswind, consistent with a slip. Although the airplane’s operating handbook cautioned against prolonged slips or skids or other “radical or extreme maneuvers which could cause uncovering of the fuel outlet,” whether the slip during the accident flight was sufficient to uncover the fuel port and result in the loss of engine power could not be determined.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.