Piper PA 22-108 N4920Z

Summary

On 24 September 2016 at about 18:05 local time, a Piper PA 22-108 registered N4920Z was involved in an accident near Pearland, Texas, United States. 2 people were on board and one was seriously injured, one 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

24 September 2016 at 18:05

Classification

Accident

Location

Pearland, Texas, United States

Coordinates

29.5089, -95.2331

Aircraft

Piper PA 22-108

Registration

N4920Z

Category

Airplane

Year built

1961

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Pearland → Pearland

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN16LA394

1 person was seriously injured.

A partial loss of engine power during takeoff for reasons that could not be determined based on the available information following a thorough postaccident examination.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The private pilot reported that he had completed a preflight inspection and filled the fuel tanks before taxiing to the runway for takeoff. He checked his instruments and performed an engine run-up; the tachometer indicating 1,800-1,900 rpm. He checked his magnetos and carburetor heat. Everything seemed okay. He lined up on the runway and then advanced the throttle; everything seemed okay. At 65 mph, he "pulled back" and took off. About 100-200 ft agl, the pilot noticed the rpm was about 1,800 and not increasing. Additionally, the airplane was not gaining any altitude. The pilot turned back toward the airport and tried to maneuver to make an emergency landing in a rough, vegetated field. During the approach to the field, the pilot avoided a house and a barn before the left wing contacted a tree and the airplane subsequently impacted the ground nose-first. A postcrash examination of the airframe and engine at the accident site did not reveal any preimpact anomalies. The atmospheric conditions at the time of the accident were conducive to the development of light carburetor icing at cruise or descent power, or borderline serious icing at descent power. According to the airplane Owner's Manual, to takeoff, advance the throttle to full power and allow the airplane to accelerate. Apply back pressure on the control wheel to lift the nose wheel at 65 mph. Once airborne, lower the nose to climb at the best rate of climb, 75 mph. With a fixed pitch propeller, 75 percent power can be maintained up to 7,000 ft. by increasing rpm as altitude is increased The maximum continuous rpm for the airplane is 2,600. Per the engine Operator's Manual, for takeoff at performance cruise power, 75 percent rated, the rpm should be 2,350.    

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.