N2593P Piper PA38 accident

NTSB DFW06CA022 · 2005-11-06 · Decatur, TX · near LUD

Summary

The engine started to run rough about a minute after takeoff. The 475-hour student pilot reported a 500 RPM drop. The pilot applied carburetor heat and switched fuel tanks, but neither resulted in an increase in engine power. The pilot leveled-off at approximately 600 feet above the ground. About 3 or 4 minutes into the flight, a severe engine vibration developed and the pilot elected to shut-down the engine and attempted to land in a pasture approximately two miles from the airport. During the landing roll the airplane impacted a fence resulting in structural damage to the wings and additional damage to the propeller. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector that traveled to the accident site noted the airplane's engine chip detector light was illuminated and that the propeller was hard to pull through. The reason for the loss or engine power could not be determined.

Full narrative

The engine started to run rough about a minute after takeoff. The 475-hour unrated pilot reported a 500 RPM drop. The pilot applied carburetor heat and switched fuel tanks, but neither resulted in an increase in engine power. The pilot leveled-off at approximately 600 feet above the ground. About 3 or 4 minutes into the flight, a severe engine vibration developed and the pilot elected to shut-down the engine down and attempt to land in a pasture approximately two miles from the airport. During the landing roll the airplane impacted a fence resulting in structural damage to the wings and additional damage to the propeller. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector that traveled to the accident site noted the airplane's engine chip detector light was illuminated and that the propeller was hard to pull through. The reason for the loss or engine power could not be determined.

Probable cause

The loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. A contributing factor was the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing. The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this accident.

Circumstances

Event type: Accident
Highest injury: None
Weather conditions: Visual Meteorological Cond
Light condition: Day
Sky condition: NONE
Ceiling (ft): 0
Visibility (sm): 10
Wind direction: 100
Wind speed (kt): 5
Temperature (F): 75
Nearest airport: Decatur Municipal Airport
Distance from field: 2.0
Airport elevation: 1047

Aircraft

Registration	Make	Model	Damage	FAR part
N2593P	Piper	PA38	SUBS	091

Sequence of events

#	Occurrence	Phase
1	350	Cruise
2	180	Cruise
3	310	Cruise

Findings

Finding
25000	cause
20200
19200	factor