ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 247406
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| Date: | Tuesday 2 February 2021 |
| Time: | 17:55 LT |
| Type: |  Piper PA-46-350P Malibu Mirage |
| Owner/operator: | Forza Management Co |
| Registration: | N221ST |
| MSN: | 4636651 |
| Year of manufacture: | 2014 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 946 hours |
| Engine model: | Lycoming TIO-540 |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 3 |
| Aircraft damage: | Substantial |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | Leicester, about 3 miles NW of Worcester Airport (ORH/KORH), MA -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | Approach |
| Nature: | Private |
| Departure airport: | Martha's Vineyard Airport, MA (MVY/KMVY) |
| Worcester Airport, MA (ORH/KORH) | |
| Investigating agency: | NTSB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
The pilot reported that, while descending through clouds and beginning the instrument approach, some ice accumulated on the wings and he actuated the deice boots twice. The pilot saw the deice boots functioning normally on the wings and could not see the tail; however, the elevator began to shake, and he lost elevator control. The pilot applied forward pressure on the yoke and had to trim nose-down to avoid a stall. There were no cockpit caution indications and the pilot had disengaged the autopilot before descent. The airplane descended through the clouds and impacted a tree before coming to rest upright in a grass area.
Postaccident examination of the wreckage, including component testing of the deice system, did not reveal any preimpact mechanical malfunctions. The flap jackscrew position suggested that the flaps were likely in transit between 0° and 10° flap extension at the time of impact. Review of radar data revealed that, during the 2 minutes before the accident, the airplane's groundspeed averaged about 82 knots; or an approximate average airspeed of 94 knots when accounting for the winds aloft. Current weather observations and forecast weather products indicated that the airplane was likely operating in an area where moderate and potentially greater structural icing conditions prevailed, and where there was the potential for the presence of supercooled liquid droplets. Review of the pilot operating handbook for the airplane revealed that the minimum speed for flight in icing conditions was 130 knots indicated airspeed. It is likely that the pilot's failure to maintain an appropriate speed for flight in icing conditions resulted in insufficient airflow over the ice contaminated elevator and the subsequent loss of elevator control.
Probable Cause: The pilot's failure to maintain the minimum airspeed for flight in icing conditions, which resulted in a loss of elevator control during approach due to ice accumulation.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
NTSB ERA21LA122
https://flightaware.com/live/flight/N221ST
FAA register: https://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=221ST
Location
Images:
Left wing leading edge ice Photo: FAA
Photo: FAA
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 03-Feb-2021 00:02 | Geno | Added |
| 03-Feb-2021 00:22 | Geno | Updated [Time, Registration, Cn, Operator, Phase, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Narrative] |
| 03-Feb-2021 03:03 | RobertMB | Updated [Registration, Location, Nature, Source, Narrative] |
| 09-Jul-2021 19:23 | aaronwk | Updated [Time, Phase, Source, Narrative, Category] |
| 03-Nov-2022 19:49 | ASN Update Bot | Updated [Time, Other fatalities, Source, Narrative, Category, Accident report] |
| 03-Nov-2022 20:09 | harro | Updated [Aircraft type, Source, Narrative, Photo] |
| 03-Nov-2022 20:10 | harro | Updated [Photo] |
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