Piper PA38-112 C-GTAO
25 July 2015 · Millbury, Ohio, United States · Fatal
Summary
On 25 July 2015 at about 14:10 local time, a Piper PA38-112 registered C-GTAO was involved in an accident near Millbury, Ohio, United States. One person was on board and one died. 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 14:10
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Millbury, Ohio, United States
- Nearest airport
- Toledo Executive Airpot (TDZ)
- Coordinates
- 41.5600, -83.4667
- Aircraft
- Piper PA38-112
- Registration
- C-GTAO
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Not recorded
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Toledo → Breslau Ontario
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- CEN15LA318
People
1 person died.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Probable cause
A loss of engine power due to three of the engine valve adjustment mechanisms backing out, which resulted from improper maintenance.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
Shortly after takeoff, the pilot declared a "mayday" and reported to air traffic control that he needed to return to the airport. The airplane crashed in an open field about ½ mile from the airport. The pilot initially survived the accident but later died from his injuries. A postaccident examination of the engine revealed the valve adjustment mechanisms (jam nut and screw) on two of the intake valves and on one of the exhaust valves were backed off. The valve spring retainer on one of the intake valves was broken, and two of the cylinder head gaskets were compromised. The spark plugs were fouled. Given the postaccident condition of the engine, the pilot most likely was returning to the airport due to a loss of engine power. Maintenance records show the engine had an annual inspection about 25 flight hours before the accident. The condition of the valve adjustment mechanisms suggests that either the tappet adjustment was not checked, as recommended by the manufacturer, or the torque on the jam nuts was incorrect.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Piper PA38 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23 Dec 2016 | Piper PA38 | Hartford, Connecticut, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 29 Mar 2014 | Piper PA38-112 | Szombathely, Hungary | Hungarian Aircraft Technology & Service | No injuries | - |
| 11 Dec 2016 | Piper PA38 | Ingenio La Cabana, El Salvador | - | Fatal | 2 |
| 11 Aug 2016 | Piper PA38 | Peterborough, Canada | - | Fatal | 1 |
| 22 Feb 2017 | Piper PA38 | East Haven, Connecticut, United States | International Aviation LLC | Fatal | 1 |
| 2 Sep 2019 | Piper PA38 | Taylor, Texas, United States | Pilots Choice Aviation Equipment Leasing | No injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 Nov 2015 | American Autogyro SPARROWHAWK | Wakeman, Ohio, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 10 Nov 2015 | British HS 125 700A | Akron, Ohio, United States | Execuflight | Fatal | 9 |
| 9 Jun 2015 | Piper PA 28-140 | Swanton, Ohio, United States | Griffing Flying Service | No injuries | - |
| 26 Jun 2015 | Stuhlmiller Robert EUROPA | Beloit, Ohio, United States | - | Fatal | 1 |
| 25 Jun 2015 | Schweizer SGS 2 32 | Middlefield, Ohio, United States | Cleveland Soaring Society Inc | No injuries | - |
| 16 Aug 2015 | Beechcraft V35 | Mount Vernon, Ohio, United States | - | No injuries | - |