Pilot Debrief

PIPER PA 24-250 near Monroeville, AL — 2014-07-03

Final reportERA14LA325
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Date
2014-07-03
Location
Monroeville, AL, USA
Airport
MVC
Aircraft
PIPER PA 24-250
Registration
N5923P
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Minor
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Initial climb

Probable cause

A loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examination of the engine and fuel system revealed no anomalies.

NTSB narrative

The flight instructor reported that he and the pilot-rated passenger departed on a cross-country flight with 30 gallons of fuel in each of the two wing tanks. While the airplane was about 100 ft above the runway at the destination airport, the flight instructor applied full power to perform a go-around. When the airplane reached about 400 ft above ground level, the engine quit. The engine regained power briefly, but it then lost total power. The flight instructor subsequently conducted a forced landing, and the airplane impacted trees, which resulted in substantial damage to both wings and the fuselage. A postaccident examination of the airplane, engine, and fuel system revealed no malfunctions or anomalies. Although the airplane was operating in conditions conducive to serious carburetor icing at descent power at the time of the accident, it could not be determined if the power loss was a result of carburetor ice.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Fuel management
First missed decision gate
Instructor did not apply carburetor heat after engine sputtering began.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

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

Docket documents15

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