Pilot Debrief

PIPER PA-28RT-201T near Baytown, TX — 2023-06-23

Final reportCEN23LA259
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Date
2023-06-23
Location
Baytown, TX, USA
Airport
HPY
Aircraft
PIPER PA-28RT-201T
Registration
N8446B
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Minor
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Approach

Probable cause

The total loss of engine power for undetermined reasons and the subsequent impact with terrain.

NTSB narrative

About 30 minutes into the local flight, 5 to 7 miles east of the airport, the engine began to run rough. The pilot leaned the fuel mixture and the engine returned to a normal operating condition. A few minutes later the engine began to run rough again. The pilot enriched the fuel mixture, turned on the auxiliary fuel pump to the low position, and the engine returned to a normal operating condition. The pilot returned to the airport, entered a left downwind, and elected to fly a normal traffic pattern. When the airplane was on the final leg of the traffic pattern and about 1/2 to 1 mile from the airport, the engine lost total power. The pilot was unable to make the airport and executed a forced landing to an adjacent field. During the forced landing, the landing gear collapsed, and the airplane came to rest upright. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings and the fuselage. A postaccident examination of the airframe and engine revealed no mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. Due to impact related damage, the engine could not be functionally tested and the reason for the total loss of engine power was not determined.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Engine power loss
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have aborted the flight after the first engine roughness.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • Photos
  • 4 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents4

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