Piper PA-32R-301 N81481

Summary

On 17 October 2024 at about 14:46 local time, a Piper PA-32R-301 registered N81481 was involved in an accident near Van, Texas, United States. 3 people were on board and 3 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

17 October 2024 at 14:46

Classification

Accident

Location

Van, Texas, United States

Coordinates

32.5383, -95.6704

Aircraft

Piper PA-32R-301

Registration

N81481

Category

Airplane

Year built

1979

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Terrell → New Orleans

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN25LA018

3 people had minor injuries.

The mechanic’s improper maintenance of the engine’s air induction scat duct, which collapsed during the flight and resulted in a loss of engine power.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot and two passengers completed an uneventful flight and refueled the airplane. They departed again, and while established in cruise flight, the engine gradually lost power. The pilot’s troubleshooting attempts were unsuccessful in restoring engine power, and the pilot performed a forced landing, which resulted in substantial damage to the left wing and fuselage. Postaccident examination revealed that the air induction hose (scat duct) to the fuel servo was the incorrect part and was also damaged and degraded. The scat duct had several tears on the outside that were covered with orange sealant. The sealant was torn open in several places but appeared to have been previously covering tears in the scat duct. The scat duct’s internal metal wire was loose and had been rubbing/chafing on the inside of the airbox. The scat duct was able to collapse easily when light pressure was applied to the outside; the internal wiring shifted easily and allowed the scat duct to collapse. The collapsed duct would have restricted airflow to the engine and resulted in a loss of engine power. During an annual inspection about 7 months before the accident, the lower cowl induction air scoop was rebonded to the engine cowling. The failed scat duct would have likely been removed and reinstalled to the airbox during this work, and the mechanic would have been able to assess its condition and recognize that it was not a manufacturer-approved part. The airplane’s maintenance logbooks did not document when the scat duct was originally installed or subsequently repaired.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.