By Jim Timm

December 2016

The following are the NTSB reports of aviation accidents that have occurred in Arizona from late October thru late November, 2016. APA and others will use this detailed accident information to develop safety programs and briefings to help pilots learn from the mistakes being made by others and hopefully then take the action necessary to prevent similar accidents from happening to them. We are getting very close to the end of the year and I hope the number and severity of the accidents remains low.

From a flight safety standpoint, this reporting period has been very good compared to what was going on earlier in the year. There were only two accidents reported by the NTSB in this period, and neither of the accidents involved injuries. However, the two airplanes did get seriously bent. From these two, and earlier accidents, it should be obvious to all, that good safety restraints are important, and can reduce injuries. If you don’t have shoulder restraints in your airplane yet, get them installed NOW, and use them!

BASED ON INFORMATION AVAILABLE WHEN THIS SUMMARY WAS PREPARED, THE REPORTED ACCIDENTS THIS PERIOD ARE AS FOLLOWS: 

Accident Date: Friday, October 21, 2016

Report Dated: 11/9 

Title 14 CFR Part 91

Location: Mesa

Aircraft Type: Arion Lightening (Experimental)

Injuries:  1 Uninjured

POWER LOSS ON TAKEOFF

On October 21, 2016, about 1730 MST, an Arion Lighting was substantially damaged following a reported loss of engine power during initial climb, loss of control, and subsequent impact with terrain at Falcon Field (FFZ), Mesa. The pilot, who had recently purchased the airplane, was not injured.  The flight was originating at the time of the accident, with a planned destination of Henderson Executive Airport (HND), Henderson, Nevada.

In a telephone interview with the National Transportation Safety Board investigator-in-charge, the pilot reported that just after taking off, and about 50 feet above ground level, "…the engine seemed to lose power, and the airplane rocked back and forth, like there was a problem with the controls." The pilot added that he remembered impacting the left side of the runway in a nose down attitude. The airplane, which was recovered for further examination, was substantially damaged due to impact forces.

Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the proposed cross-country flight, and a flight plan was not filed.

Accident Date: Saturday, November 12, 2016

Report Dated: 11/22

Title 14 CFR Part 91

Location: Taylor, Arizona

Aircraft Type: Piper PA 28-235

Injuries:  2 Uninjured

FORCED LANDING

On November 12, 2016, about 1640 MST, a Piper PA 28-235 struck a berm during a forced landing, following a loss of engine power near Taylor. The flight instructor and student pilot were not injured. The airplane sustained substantial damage during the accident sequence. The local instructional flight departed Taylor Airport about 1600. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed.

The flight instructor reported that about 40 minutes after takeoff, and after completing a series of training maneuvers with the student, he decided to demonstrate an emergency descent. He asked the student to look for an appropriate simulated landing spot, and he pitched the nose down about 20-degrees, configuring the airplane for a 100 knot descent. They began the maneuver at an elevation of about 8,000 ft (1,700 agl), and after descending about 500 ft the instructor sensed that something was not right. He lifted off his headset, and the engine sounded quiet; he then pushed the throttle forward but the manifold pressure gauge remained static, and the engine did not respond. He "pumped" the throttle, switched the fuel selector valve from the left to right tank, and set the fuel mixture to full rich, with no change. Concerned that they did not have sufficient altitude for further troubleshooting, he began to look for an emergency landing site.

On final approach he secured the airplane, shutting off the fuel selector valve, and as they got closer to the ground he could see a berm and fence obstructing the landing area. They were unable to deviate, and the airplane landed hard, separating the nose and right main landing gear. The airplane sustained damage to the aft fuselage and right side of the stabilator during the impact.

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