Loss of control Accident Piper PA-46-350P Malibu Mirage JetPROP N747TH,
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ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 169535
 
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Date:Wednesday 3 September 2014
Time:12:38
Type:Silhouette image of generic P46T model; specific model in this crash may look slightly different    
Piper PA-46-350P Malibu Mirage JetPROP
Owner/operator:Philburto Aviation, LTD
Registration: N747TH
MSN: 4636200/107
Year of manufacture:1999
Total airframe hrs:2900 hours
Engine model:Pratt & Whitney PT6A-35
Fatalities:Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 2
Aircraft damage: Destroyed
Category:Accident
Location:Cortez Municipal Airport (KCEZ), Cortez, CO -   United States of America
Phase: Landing
Nature:Training
Departure airport:Cortez, CO (CEZ)
Destination airport:Cortez, CO (CEZ)
Investigating agency: NTSB
Confidence Rating: Accident investigation report completed and information captured
Narrative:
The accident occurred during a local instructional flight to satisfy the commercial pilot’s annual insurance currency requirements in the accident airplane. The flight instructor reported that the pilot was demonstrating a simulated loss of engine power during initial climb and return for a downwind landing. During initial climb, upon reaching 1,200 ft above ground level (agl), the flight instructor reduced engine power to flight idle and feathered the propeller. In response, the pilot reduced airplane pitch and entered a left, 45-degree-bank turn back toward the airport. The flight instructor stated that, upon rolling wings level, the airplane appeared to be lower than he had expected as it glided toward the runway; however, he believed there was sufficient altitude remaining to safely land on the runway and told the pilot to continue without increasing the engine power. The flight instructor ultimately decided to abort the maneuver as the airplane crossed over the runway threshold at 40 ft agl. The flight instructor advanced the engine power lever to the full-forward position and increased airplane pitch to arrest the descent; however, he did not perceive an increase in engine thrust. Without an increase in engine thrust and with the increased pitch, the airplane’s airspeed decreased rapidly, and the airplane entered an aerodynamic stall about 30 ft above the runway. The airplane impacted the runway before sliding into a grassy area.
The flight instructor reported that he did not recall advancing the propeller control when he decided to abort the maneuver, and, as such, the perceived lack of engine thrust was likely because the propeller remained feathered after he increased engine power. Additionally, the flight instructor postulated that the airplane’s landing gear had not been retracted after takeoff, which resulted in a reduced climb gradient, and, as such, the airplane entered the maneuver farther away from the airport than anticipated. Further, with the landing gear extended, the airplane experienced a reduction in glide performance during the simulated forced landing. The flight instructor reported that the accident could have been prevented if he had maintained a safe flying airspeed after he took control of the airplane. Additionally, he believed that his delayed decision to abort the maneuver resulted in an insufficient margin of safety.
Probable Cause: The flight instructor’s delayed decision to abort the simulated engine out maneuver, his failure to unfeather the propeller before restoring engine power, and his inadequate airspeed management, which led to an aerodynamic stall at low altitude.

Accident investigation:
cover
  
Investigating agency: NTSB
Report number: CEN14LA476
Status: Investigation completed
Duration:
Download report: Final report

Sources:

NTSB

Location

Revision history:

Date/timeContributorUpdates
04-Sep-2014 18:00 gerard57 Added
04-Sep-2014 18:01 harro Updated [Aircraft type, Registration, Cn, Location, Departure airport, Destination airport]
05-Sep-2014 02:25 Geno Updated [Time, Location, Nature]
11-Sep-2014 15:27 Aerossurance Updated [Source, Narrative]
21-Dec-2016 19:28 ASN Update Bot Updated [Time, Damage, Category, Investigating agency]
21-Jan-2017 17:22 Aerossurance Updated [Narrative]
18-Aug-2017 19:18 ASN Update Bot Updated [Cn, Operator, Other fatalities, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Narrative]
18-Aug-2017 19:19 harro Updated [Other fatalities, Narrative]
13-Dec-2021 21:58 wf Updated [Damage]
13-Dec-2021 21:58 wf Updated [[Damage]]
17-Dec-2021 19:23 harro Updated [Aircraft type]

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