Piper PA-31-350 N3588Y
27 April 1988 · Hayward, California, United States · Serious injuries
Summary
On 27 April 1988 at about 07:14 local time, a Piper PA-31-350 registered N3588Y, operated by Helicopters Unlimited, was involved in an accident near Hayward, California, United States. One person was on board and one was seriously injured. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 07:14
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Hayward, California, United States
- Nearest airport
- Hayward Air Term. (HWD)
- Coordinates
- 37.6694, -122.0795
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-31-350
- Registration
- N3588Y
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 2
- Operator
- Helicopters Unlimited
- Operating rule
- Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
- Purpose of flight
- Unknown
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Upland → Hayward
- Aircraft damage
- Destroyed
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Night/Dark
- NTSB number
- LAX88FA169
People
1 person was seriously injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Probable cause
PILOT'S FAILURE TO DETECT AN UNCOMMANDED PROPELLER FEATHERING PROCEDURES ESTABLISHED IN THE PILOT'S OPERATING HANDBOOK.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
UPON ARRIVING AT HIS DESTINATION THE PILOT BEGAN A VISUAL, NIGHT DESCENT TO HIS DESTINATION AIRPORT. AS THE AIRCRAFT DESCENDED THE PILOT REDUCED THE AIRSPEED AND DEPLOYED FLAPS. AS THE AIRCRAFT NEARED THE AIRPORT THE PILOT INCREASED THE FLAP ANGLE AND ADJUSTED THE PROPELLERS TO THE LANDING RPM AND THE AIRSPEED DECREASED. THE PILOT STATED THAT AT THIS TIME HE HEARD A NOISE THAT SOUNDED LIKE A FLUTTER WHICH HE THOUGHT WAS EMANATING FROM THE RIGHT ENGINE. FULL THROTTLE WAS APPLIED, BUT THE AIRSPEED CONTINUED TO DECREASE AND THE PILOT ELECTED TO LAND ON A FREEWAY. THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH A MOTOR VEHICLE ON TOUCHDOWN AND SLID TO A STOP. POST CRASH EXAM REVEALED THE RPM CONTROL LEVERS AND BELLRANKS TO BE IN THE HIGH RPM SETTINGS. THE LEFT PROP WAS FOUND IN THE FEATHERED POSITION.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Piper PA-31 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17 Jun 1988 | Piper PA-31-P | Miami Lakes, Florida, United States | - | Fatal | 1 |
| 19 Oct 1988 | Piper PA-31-350 | Big Rapids, Michigan, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 14 Nov 1988 | Piper PA-31-350 | Indianapolis, Indiana, United States | Jordan Paper Products, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 10 Mar 1988 | Piper PA-31-350 | Dixon, Illinois, United States | Blackhawk Air Service | No injuries | - |
| 10 Nov 1988 | Piper PA-31-350 | Tupelo, Mississippi, United States | Seneca 31682, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 4 Apr 1988 | Piper PA-31-325 | Orinda, California, United States | - | Fatal | 5 |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 27 Jan 1988 | Colman BD-4 | Half Moon Bay, California, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 4 Oct 1988 | Cessna 182A | Visalia, California, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 28 Apr 1988 | Cessna 150F | Hayfork, California, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 25 Feb 1988 | Beechcraft A36 | Ramona, California, United States | Lancer Engineering | Minor injuries | - |
| 1 May 1988 | Cessna 180B | Quincy, California, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 9 Jul 1988 | Hiller UH-12D | Winterhaven, California, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |