Piper PA-23-180 N825SA

Summary

On 12 July 2003 at about 15:30 local time, a Piper PA-23-180 registered N825SA was involved in an accident near Akron, Ohio, 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.

Date

12 July 2003 at 15:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Akron, Ohio, United States

Nearest airport

Akron/Canton International (CAK)

Coordinates

40.9161, -81.4422

Aircraft

Piper PA-23-180

Registration

N825SA

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Akron-Canton Re → Wadsworth Munic

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

IAD03LA063

1 person was seriously injured.

the pilot's failure to maintain minimum control single engine airspeed (Vmc) during a loss of power on one engine, which resulted in a loss of control in flight an in-flight collision with terrain. A factor was a shifted main journal, which resulted in a partial loss of engine power.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

Prior to take off, the pilot conducted a pre-flight inspection and engine run-up, and found "nothing unusual." On the take off roll, he rotated at 80 mph. As the airplane began to climb, the pilot said the left engine rpm dropped to 1,500 RPM, and the airplane veered left. He was unable to maintain altitude or directional control, and contacted the ground with the left wing first, followed by the nose. A witness stated that when the airplane was 15-20 feet above the ground, he heard a loud popping noise. The engines revved up and it looked like the airplane was going to land, but continued to climb with louder than normal engine revs. The engines were examined under the supervision of a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, and no mechanical deficiencies were noted. The airplane was released to the owner, who later sold it to an airplane salvage company. According to a representative of the salvage company, during a teardown of the left engine, the main bearing was found partially seated on the journal. It appeared blue in color. At the time of the accident, the engine had accrued a total of 1,607 hours since field overhaul.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.