Piper PA-31P N4200N

Summary

On 30 June 2005 at about 13:16 local time, a Piper PA-31P registered N4200N, operated by Max Pak, was involved in an accident near Fort Payne, Alabama, 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

30 June 2005 at 13:16

Classification

Accident

Location

Fort Payne, Alabama, United States

Nearest airport

Isbell Field (4A9)

Coordinates

34.4736, -85.7214

Aircraft

Piper PA-31P

Registration

N4200N

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Max Pak

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Executive/Corporate

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Fort Payne → Gulfport

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

IMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ATL05LA118

2 people had minor injuries.

The loss of engine power due to the failure of the aft clamp connecting the turbocharger compressor outlet to the intercooler ducting which resulted in reduced aircraft performance during takeoff.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

Shortly after liftoff, about 20 feet above the ground, the pilot noticed a drop in the right engine manifold pressure. As the airplane began a right roll, efforts by the pilot to arrest the roll failed. When the pilot decided to put the airplane back on the ground, the right wing collided with the ground, the airplane cart wheeled and came to rest on its belly and burst into flames. Examination of the wreckage site revealed the aircraft located approximately 200 feet on the northwest side of the runway 22 centerline. The left fuel tank was ruptured and the left side of the airplane was fire damaged. Further examination revealed that the right engine's aft clamp connecting the turbocharger compressor outlet to the intercooler piping was broken, and the coupling was not secured to the turbocharger assembly. The examination also revealed that the aft clamp used to secure the coupling to the turbocharger assembly was not a T-bolt style clamp but, a standard automotive adjustable clamp. According to the engine manufacturer, the intercooler assembly and associated systems were produced by American Aviation, Inc., as a Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) SE3800NM product. When the STC installation was accomplished on the accident airplane was not determined.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.