Pilot Debrief

NEW PIPER AIRCRAFT INC PA-46-500TP near Brenham, TX — 2013-03-13

Final reportCEN13LA195
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Date
2013-03-13
Location
Brenham, TX, USA
Airport
11R
Aircraft
NEW PIPER AIRCRAFT INC PA-46-500TP
Registration
N665KC
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Approach

Probable cause

A lack of available engine power during an attempted go-around for reasons that could not be determined because the postaccident engine examinations did not reveal any anomalies consistent with an inability to produce rated power.

NTSB narrative

The flight instructor reported that the purpose of the flight was to practice engine failure procedures and power-off approaches. The accident occurred during the third approach of the flight as he was demonstrating the power-off approach technique. He noted that he had climbed to 3,500 feet, reduced engine power, and began a spiral over the airport to enter the left traffic pattern to the runway. During final approach, the airplane started descending at a higher rate. The flight instructor stated that he attempted to increase engine power but that he did not "hear or feel an indication of [engine] power increasing." The airplane subsequently impacted terrain about 165 feet short of the runway. Flight and engine data recovered from the avionics were consistent with a power-off approach. The engine gas generator speed, torque, interturbine temperature, and oil pressure parameters were stable at the end of the recorded data and were consistent to the same parameters recorded during the initial power-off approach. A postaccident examination of the airframe and engine did not reveal any anomalies consistent with an inability to obtain engine power. Functional testing and subsequent teardown examinations of the fuel pump, fuel control unit, and fuel oil heat exchanger also did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. Variations from standard production component settings were consistent with field adjustments.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Engine power loss
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have maintained proper airspeed and configuration during approach.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • 8 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents8

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