ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 181869
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| Date: | Tuesday 1 December 2015 |
| Time: | 10:37 |
| Type: |  Piper PA-32-260 Cherokee Six |
| Owner/operator: | Private |
| Registration: | N5568J |
| MSN: | 32-1032 |
| Year of manufacture: | 1968 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 6019 hours |
| Engine model: | Lycoming O-540 SERIES |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 3 |
| Aircraft damage: | Substantial |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | SE of Opa-Locka Executive Airport (KOPF), Miami, FL -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | Take off |
| Nature: | Private |
| Departure airport: | Opa Locka, FL (KOPF) |
| South Bimini, AO (MYBS) | |
| Investigating agency: | NTSB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
The private pilot stated that the airplane was climbing through about 800 ft after takeoff when light smoke appeared from the instrument panel and windscreen area. The pilot began a turn back toward the airport, and, almost immediately, the engine experienced a total loss of power. The pilot performed an off-airport forced landing, the airplane struck a parked tractor-trailer, and came to rest inverted on a berm.
Subsequent examination of the airplane revealed soot and char marks on the left side of the engine cowling and in the engine compartment. The muffler’s left sidewall displayed metal erosion and a wall breach that allowed exhaust gas to leak into the engine compartment. The engine fuel lines exhibited thermal damage but were not compromised. The front of the carburetor was charred, and some magneto leads were burned. The exact means by which the engine lost power could not be determined, but the intense heat of the exhaust gas could have burned off fuel in the carburetor, created a vapor lock in the fuel lines, or interrupted spark to the cylinders.
Further examination of the muffler revealed that the right sidewall was thin and rusted and had small erosion holes. The accident occurred less than 8 hours of operation after the airplane’s most recent annual/100-hour inspection. Manufacturer-mandated inspection criteria required particular attention be paid to the exhaust system, especially fatigue-prone areas such as the muffler sidewalls. Given the degree of preexisting deterioration noted, it is likely that the exhaust system was not properly inspected during the last inspection.
Probable Cause: Maintenance personnel's inadequate inspection of the exhaust system, which resulted in the escape of exhaust gases into the engine compartment and a subsequent total loss of engine power.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
NTSB
FAA register: http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/NNum_Results.aspx?NNumbertxt=5568J
Location
Media:
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 01-Dec-2015 17:38 | Geno | Added |
| 01-Dec-2015 17:39 | Geno | Updated [Aircraft type] |
| 02-Dec-2015 10:13 | Iceman 29 | Updated [Embed code] |
| 21-Dec-2016 19:30 | ASN Update Bot | Updated [Time, Damage, Category, Investigating agency] |
| 19-Aug-2017 14:56 | ASN Update Bot | Updated [Other fatalities, Nature, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Narrative] |
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