Piper PA-28-235 N8547N

Summary

On 1 March 2003 at about 19:55 local time, a Piper PA-28-235 registered N8547N was involved in an accident near Westerly, Rhode Island, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

1 March 2003 at 19:55

Classification

Accident

Location

Westerly, Rhode Island, United States

Nearest airport

Westerly State Airport (WST)

Coordinates

41.3494, -71.8033

Aircraft

Piper PA-28-235

Registration

N8547N

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Westerly → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

NYC03LA060

2 people had minor injuries.

The pilot-in-command's delayed remedial action when the airplane flew below the glidepath, and a total loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot and pilot rated passenger departed with the fuel tanks half-full. They alternated flying duties while performing touch-and-go landings. After three landings, the pilot positioned the fuel selector from the left main fuel tank to the right main fuel tank. During the sixth approach, the pilot rated passenger was manipulating the controls. While turning onto final approach, the pilot rated passenger reduced the throttle to idle and turned the carburetor heat off. While on an approximate 1/2-mile final leg, the airplane flew below the glidepath and drifted to the right. At the time, the pilot was looking out the left side and to the rear of the airplane. The pilot rated passenger input throttle control to correct the descent rate, but the engine did not respond. The pilot rated passenger alerted the pilot to the problem, and the pilot took control of the airplane. He attempted a restart procedure, which included positioning the fuel selector to the left main fuel tank, verifying that the fuel pump was on, and cycling the ignition and throttle. The engine did not restart and the pilot subsequently performed a forced landing into trees about 500 feet short of the runway. The pilot rated passenger reported that his biannual flight review was expired, he had no flight experience within the preceding 12 months, and no flight experience in the make and model accident airplane. Examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector did not reveal any pre-impact mechanical malfunctions. The inspector stated that there was fuel in both main fuel tanks, the fuel selector, and the carburetor bowl. Review of FAA-H-8083-3, Airplane Flying Handbook, revealed: "The ability to estimate the distance an airplane will glide to a landing is the real basis of all power-off accuracy approaches and landings. This will largely determine the amount of maneuvering that may be done from a given altitude. In addition to the ability to estimate distance, it requires the ability to maintain the proper glide while maneuvering the airplane."

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.