Piper PA28 N6530W

Summary

On 2 July 2020 at about 00:32 local time, a Piper PA28 registered N6530W was involved in an accident near Bridgeport, Texas, United States. 3 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

2 July 2020 at 00:32

Classification

Accident

Location

Bridgeport, Texas, United States

Nearest airport

Bridgeport Muni (XBP)

Coordinates

33.1628, -97.8242

Aircraft

Piper PA28

Registration

N6530W

Category

Airplane

Year built

1964

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Bridgeport → Bridgeport

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN20LA258

Nobody was injured.

Maintenance personnel’s inadequate inspection, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to a restricted air intake-induction system.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported the engine seemed to lose power shortly after takeoff. His attempts to restore engine power were not successful, and he executed a forced landing. A postaccident engine examination revealed evidence of an insect (mud dauber) nest within the carburetor heat induction system. The pilot purchased the airplane 2 days before the accident. Airplane maintenance records indicated that an annual inspection was completed on the day the airplane was sold to the accident pilot. The records also indicated the airplane had not been flown between the annual inspection in 2017 and the most recent inspection 2 days before the accident. Furthermore, the markings on the oil filter suggested that the oil was not changed during the most recent annual inspection. The airplane was operated 1.16 hours since that most recent inspection. The insect nest in the carburetor heat system likely became dislodged during airplane operation and subsequently restricted air flow to the carburetor resulting in a loss of engine power. The location of the insect nest was not in an area visible to the pilot during a preflight inspection. However, the presence of the nest could have been detected during a thorough and complete annual maintenance inspection. In addition, the failure of the mechanic to change the engine oil and filter during the most recent annual inspection suggested that the inspection was less than thorough and complete. Although there was a slight possibility of carburetor icing at glide and cruise power, it is unlikely to have been the cause of the power loss since the loss of engine power occurred shortly after takeoff.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.