Piper PA46 N4646G

Summary

On 28 July 2024 at about 16:30 local time, a Piper PA46 registered N4646G was involved in an accident near Radisson, Wisconsin, United States. One person was 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

28 July 2024 at 16:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Radisson, Wisconsin, United States

Coordinates

45.7330, -91.2619

Aircraft

Piper PA46

Registration

N4646G

Category

Airplane

Year built

1985

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Lake in the Hills → Hayward

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN24LA286

Nobody was injured.

The non-certificated mechanic’s failure to properly tighten and torque the fuel system pressure test port cap, which resulted in a total loss of engine power, and a subsequent forced landing.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The engine sustained a total loss of power when nearing the destination airport during a cross-country flight. The pilot performed a forced landing to a rural grass field and the airplane landed hard, coming to rest upright. The pilot was able to egress from the airplane without further incident. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and the empennage. An on-site examination of the engine found that a cap was missing from the fuel pressure test port near the front top area of the engine. The test port is where a gauge would connect during maintenance work to test the fuel pressure. The test port and the aluminum housing that the port connects to both had blue staining. The exposed threading that the cap screws onto was found intact and the missing cap was not located. A review of the engine monitor performance data showed performance consistent with a total loss of engine power. The fuel flow rate had increased up to the maximum reading, about 80 gallons per hour, at the time the total loss of engine power occurred. A review of the most recent airplane maintenance records showed than an annual inspection was performed on the airframe, engine, and propeller about six weeks before the accident. The records reflected work completed on the fuel injection system, including the installation of new fuel injectors. According to the engine manufacturer, a fuel system operational check is required if fuel injectors are replaced. Test equipment is connected to the fuel pressure test port and a test is performed. Once the test work is completed, a cap is required to be tightened and torqued on the test port. The individual who performed the most recent annual inspections on the airplane did not hold an airframe and powerplant certificate, nor did he hold inspection authorization. The non-certificated mechanic signed off the annual inspections and returned the airplane to service using the airframe and powerplant mechanic certificate number of his deceased father, who held inspection authorization. The test port had blue staining present, and the exposed threading was found intact. The aluminum housing that the port connects to also had blue staining present. The blue staining was likely from a 100 low-lead fuel leak while in-flight. It is likely the loss of fuel and fuel system pressure caused a total loss of engine power. Based on the available evidence, it is likely that the non-certificated mechanic forgot to properly tighten and torque the fuel pressure test port cap, which resulted in a total loss of engine power. The non-certificated mechanic fraudulently represented himself as a certificated mechanic with inspection authorization and the appropriate knowledge, training, and experience by signing off the annual inspections and returning the airplane to service.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.