Pilot Debrief

PIPER PA-34-220T near Roy, UT — 2024-07-24

Final reportWPR24LA254
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Date
2024-07-24
Location
Roy, UT, USA
Airport
OGD
Aircraft
PIPER PA-34-220T
Registration
N134MG
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Serious
Fatalities
0

Probable cause

The flight instructor’s decision to shut down an engine on an extended leg of the airport traffic pattern, which led to a loss of performance and inability to maintain altitude.

NTSB narrative

The flight instructor and pilot receiving instruction reported that during a local instructional flight, they extended the landing gear; however, the right main landing gear indicator did not show that the landing gear was down and locked. After briefly troubleshooting, they performed a low approach so the airport traffic control tower controller could observe the landing gear condition. After maneuvering near the runway, they extended the upwind leg of the traffic pattern by 2 miles before turning left crosswind. During the crosswind turn, the pilot receiving instruction advanced the power to the left engine, while the flight instructor simultaneously shut down the right engine to avoid damage to the propeller and right engine if the right main landing gear were to collapse upon landing. The flight instructor reported that after shutting down the right engine, initially the airplane was able to maintain altitude and airspeed with maximum power on the left engine. Once established on downwind, the “over-boost” light illuminated on the annunciator panel, consistent with the operating engine exceeding the manifold pressure limit of 40.5 inches of mercury. The flight instructor told the pilot receiving instruction to retard the throttle to not over-boost the left engine; however, the flight instructor reported that slight movement of the throttle resulted in a decrease in manifold pressure to about 23–25 inches of mercury. As the airplane passed midfield, the instructor noticed the airplane was unable to maintain altitude and began the steps to restart the right engine; however, due to their altitude and airspeed, he aborted the restart attempt and decided to land on a road south of the runway. The flight instructor took control of the airplane and began to maneuver toward the road. During the landing process, the airplane struck multiple trees and impacted a road before it came to rest upright against a tree in the front yard of a residence. Postaccident examination of the recovered wreckage revealed no evidence of any preimpact mechanical malfunction that would have precluded normal operation. Damage sustained to the airframe precluded functional testing of the landing gear system. The investigation was unable to determine the reason for the activation of the right main landing gear indicator.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

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

Docket documents9

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