Piper PA 28 N601FT

Summary

On 29 June 2016 at about 17:00 local time, a Piper PA 28 registered N601FT, operated by Airborne Systems Inc., was involved in an accident near Merritt Island, Florida, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

29 June 2016 at 17:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Merritt Island, Florida, United States

Nearest airport

Merritt Island (COI)

Coordinates

28.3419, -80.6878

Aircraft

Piper PA 28

Registration

N601FT

Category

Airplane

Year built

1989

Engines

1

Operator

Airborne Systems Inc.

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Merritt Island → Merritt Island

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

GAA16LA352

Nobody was injured.

A total loss of engine power during the landing roll, and an engine fire during a subsequent engine restart attempt. Neither the cause for the loss of engine power nor the source of the fire could be determined because the airplane was not made available for examination.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The flight instructor reported that he and his student were practicing takeoffs and landings in preparation for the student's first solo flight. During the seventh landing, the engine experienced a total loss of power during the landing roll. The instructor attempted to restart the engine, but during the process, he smelled and observed smoke coming from the engine cowling. He switched off the electrical equipment, obtained the fire extinguisher, and attempted to extinguish the fire. Maintenance personnel arrived shortly thereafter and fully extinguished the fire. The engine and carburetor were not made available for examination; therefore, neither the reason for the loss of power nor the source of the fire could be determined. Although the instructor's actions following the observed smoke were inconsistent with those prescribed by the pilot's operating handbook for an engine fire during start, whether his actions contributed to the fire could not be determined.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.