Piper PA-23-160 N4155P
23 March 1991 · Westbrook, Maine, United States · No injuries
Summary
On 23 March 1991 at about 21:08 local time, a Piper PA-23-160 registered N4155P, operated by Phoenix East Aviation, was involved in an accident near Westbrook, Maine, United States. 4 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 21:08
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Westbrook, Maine, United States
- Nearest airport
- Portland (PWM)
- Coordinates
- Not recorded
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-23-160
- Registration
- N4155P
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 2
- Operator
- Phoenix East Aviation
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Millinocket → Lawrence
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- IMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- NYC91LA092
People
Nobody was injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
Probable cause
IMPROPER EMERGENCY PROCEDURES BY THE PILOT. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE PILOT'S LACK OF EXPERIENCE AND FLIGHT TIME IN TYPE OF AIRPLANE, THE PILOTS DECISION TO TAKE AN AIRPLANE WITH A KNOWN MECHANICAL DEFECT, A LEAKY ACCELERATOR PUMP SEAL ON THE CARBURETOR, AND INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
ON AN IFR FLIGHT IN IMC CONDITIONS THE RIGHT ENGINE STARTED TO SHUDDER AND PRODUCE BLACK SMOKE, AND THEN THE PROPELLER WENT INTO FEATHER WITHOUT ACTUATION OF THE PROPELLER CONTROL. THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN ALTITUDE AND THE PILOT MADE A FORCED LANDING IN AN OPEN FIELD. THE RIGHT ENGINE OIL WAS DILUTED BY GASOLINE, DUE TO A LEAK IN THE ACCELERATOR PUMP OF THE CARBURETOR WHICH CAUSED THE ENGINE TO RUN RICH. INTERVIEWS DISCLOSED THE PILOT HAD 'DENIAL' ON THE ENGINE PROBLEM, DID NOT SECURE THE ENGINE, AND DID NOT DECLARE AN EMERGENCY WITH ARC. BOTH ENGINES WERE HIGH TIME WITH HIGH TIME SINCE OVERHAUL. HARTZELL PROPELLERS PERSONNEL VERIFIED DILUTED OIL COULD CAUSE A PROPELLER TO GO INTO UNCOMMANDED FEATHER.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Piper PA-23 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 Jul 1991 | Piper PA-23-250 | New Market, Virginia, United States | John Root | Serious injuries | - |
| 22 Jul 1991 | Piper PA-23-250 | Templeton, Massachusetts, United States | Charles O'donnell | No injuries | - |
| 7 Feb 1991 | Piper PA-23-250 | Liberty, North Carolina, United States | Shamrock Gravure Products, Inc | Fatal | 1 |
| 26 Jul 1991 | Piper PA-23-250 | Manteo, North Carolina, United States | Brookfield Aviation, Inc | Fatal | 2 |
| 14 Jan 1991 | Piper PA-23 | Bolivar, Tennessee, United States | Bolivar Aircraft Sales | Serious injuries | - |
| 3 Feb 1991 | Piper PA-23-250 | Lumberton, North Carolina, United States | Hester, Harry | Fatal | 1 |
All 1,716 records for this type
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 Jul 1991 | Piper PA-11 | Eagle Lake, Maine, United States | Conrad el Daigle | Minor injuries | - |
| 28 Jul 1991 | Cessna 172P | Greenville, Maine, United States | Folsom's Air Service, Inc | Minor injuries | - |
| 23 Aug 1991 | Cessna 150 | Ashland, Maine, United States | Garry Nelson, SR. | No injuries | - |
| 8 Sep 1991 | Taylorcraft BC/2D | Rangeley, Maine, United States | George S COY | Minor injuries | - |
| 12 May 1991 | Cessna 185F | Sanford, Maine, United States | George Grinnall | Minor injuries | - |
| 21 Sep 1991 | Lake LA-4 | Wilton, Maine, United States | Al's Air Service, Inc. | No injuries | - |