Piper PA-31-350 N27687

Summary

On 12 November 1993 at about 11:29 local time, a Piper PA-31-350 registered N27687, operated by Cherokee Express, Inc., was involved in an accident near Orlando, Florida, United States. 3 people were on board and one died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

12 November 1993 at 11:29

Classification

Accident

Location

Orlando, Florida, United States

Nearest airport

Orlando Executive (ORL)

Coordinates

28.5510, -81.2991

Aircraft

Piper PA-31-350

Registration

N27687

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Cherokee Express, Inc.

Operating rule

Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter

Purpose of flight

Unknown

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Unknown → Tampa

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Dawn

NTSB number

MIA94FA020

1 person died.

WAS IN FLIGHT LOSS OF CONTROL FOR FAILURE OF THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND TO MAINTAIN VMC SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS PARTIAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FROM THE LEFT ENGINE DUE TO PARTIAL BLOCKAGE OF SEVERAL OF THE FUEL INJECTOR NOZZLES. ALSO CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS WEIGHT AND BALANCE EXCEEDED BY THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND AND INADEQUATE SURVEILLANCE BY THE COMPANY AND BY THE FAA.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

CARGO WAS NOT WEIGHED AND WEIGHT AND BALANCE CALCULATIONS WERE NOT PERFORMED. THE AIRPLANE WAS ABOUT 321 POUNDS OVER GROSS. WHILE TAXIING, A WITNESS REPORTED SEEING BLACK SMOKE TRAILING THE LEFT ENGINE WHICH HAD BEEN WORKED ON THE NIGHT BEFORE THE ACCIDENT. 2 CYLINDERS WERE WORKED ON AND A FUEL INJECTOR NOZZLE WAS CLEANED. THE CLIMB AFTER TAKEOFF WAS 'LOW AND SLOW' DURING WHICH THE AIRPLANE ROLLED LEFT, PITCHED NOSE DOWN, AND IMPACTED THE GROUND COMING TO REST ADJACENT TO A HOUSE. EXAMINATION OF EACH ENGINE REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF INTERNAL MECHANICAL FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION. HEAT DAMAGE PRECLUDED TESTING OF THE MAGNETOS, TURBOCHARGER COMPONENTS, AND FUEL SERVOS OF EACH ENGINE. EXAMINATION OF EACH PROPELLER REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF PREIMPACT FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION. THE FUEL NOZZLES FROM THE LEFT ENGINE WERE EXAMINED WHICH REVEALED THAT THEY WERE BLOCKED IN VARIOUS PLACES DUE TO CONTAMINANTS. AFTER THE ACCIDENT THE FAA PERFORMED A FOCUSED INSPECTION OF THE OPERATOR REVEALING THAT THE CARGO WAS NOT BEING WEIGHED, THE CHIEF PILOT OF THE COMPANY WAS IN NAME ONLY, AND LOAD MANIFESTS WERE NOT BEING KEPT BY THE COMPANY.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.