National Transportation Safety Board -- May 2012 Aviation Accidents NTSB Identification: CEN12CA270 Accident occurred Tuesday, May 01, 2012 in Three Rivers, MI Aircraft: CESSNA 172M, registration: Injuries: 2 Uninjured. CEN12CA270 According to the certified flight instructor (CFI), they were practicing touch and go landings. During the second touch and go, the airplane hit a deer, just as the airplane rotated. The CFI continued with the takeoff and established that there were no vibrations and that the airplane was controllable. The CFI elected to divert to a nearby airport where emergency services were available, and landed without further incident. Examination of the airplane revealed that the right wing strut and right gear mount were bent and the right side of the fuselage was buckled. NTSB Identification: ERA12LA340 Accident occurred Saturday, May 05, 2012 in Williston, FL Aircraft: PIPER PA-28R-201T, registration: Injuries: 4 Uninjured. On May 5, 2012, approximately 1500 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-28R-201T, was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a loss of engine power after takeoff from Williston Municipal Airport (X60), Williston, Florida. The certificated airline transport pilot and three passengers were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight, which departed Ocala International Airport (OCF), Ocala, Florida, approximately 1420. The personal flight was conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The pilot stated that the purpose of the flight was to do some local sightseeing, as well as touch-and-go practice takeoffs and landings at X60. During the third takeoff, at an altitude of about 400 feet and while the airplane's landing gear was retracting, the engine experienced a loss of power. The pilot elected to turn the airplane and land, gear-up, in a grassy area to the side of the crosswind runway. Post accident examination by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed substantial damage to the left wing. Visual inspection of the engine revealed no anomalies, and a detailed engine examination was scheduled for a later date. NTSB Identification: CEN12LA300 Accident occurred Wednesday, May 09, 2012 in Midland, TX
Aircraft: CESSNA T210K, registration: Injuries: 2 Uninjured. On May 9, 2012, approximately 1030 central daylight time, a Cessna 210K airplane, sustained substantial damage during an emergency landing at Midland International Airport (MAF), Midland, Texas. The commercial pilot and the passenger were not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by Corporate Services LLC, Baton Rouge, Louisiana. An instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan was filed for the flight that departed Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport (BTR), Baton Rouge, Louisiana, approximately 0630. Visual Meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight conducted under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. In a written statement, the pilot reported that the flight was uneventful until he configured the airplane for landing. When he extended the landing gear, he noted that the right main gear was not down and locked. The pilot attempted to pump the gear down with the landing gear emergency extension handle, but to no avail. He declared an emergency and prepared to land on runway 34L. The pilot said, "I made a tight base to final, and slowed the plane to 70-80 miles per hour with full flaps. Touching down on the left main first I throttled back attempting to hold off the right main as much as possible. When the aircraft slowed, I cut the mixture. At around 30-40 miles per hour, the right gear collapsed and the aircraft veered hard right and came to rest 15 feet off the runway." A review of photographs taken by the Texas Department of Public Safety, revealed the right horizontal stabilizer was substantially damaged. The airplane was moved to a secure hangar for further examination of the landing gear. The pilot held a commercial pilot certificate for airplane single and multi-engine land, and instrument airplane. His last Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) First Class medical was issued on November 22, 2011. At that time, he reported a total of 275 total flight hours. Weather at MAF at 1053 was reported as wind from 100 degrees at 8 knots, visibility 10 miles, broken clouds at 3,900 feet and 6,500 feet, temperature 19 degrees Celsius, dewpoint 6 degrees Celsius, and an altimeter setting of 30.17 inches HG. NTSB Identification: CEN12LA308 Accident occurred Sunday, May 20, 2012 in Frankenmuth, MI Aircraft: PIPER PA-28-180, registration: Injuries: 3 Minor,1 Uninjured. On May 20, 2012, at 1727 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-28-180,, collided with the terrain during an off airport forced landing in Frankenmuth, Michigan. The airplane sustained a loss of engine power shortly after takeoff from the Wm "Tiny" Zehnder Field (66G) just prior to the accident. The private pilot was not injured and three passengers sustained minor injuries. The airplane was substantially damaged. The 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions and no flight plan was
filed. The flight originated about 1722 and the planned destination was the Plymouth-Mettetal Airport (1D2), Plymouth, Michigan. NTSB Identification: CEN12LA314 Accident occurred Monday, May 21, 2012 in Ardmore, OK Aircraft: CESSNA 152, registration: Injuries: 1 Uninjured. On May 21, 2012, at 1850 central daylight time, a Cessna 152,, impacted trees, power line(s), and the ground following an aborted landing at Ardmore Downtown Executive Airport, Ardmore, Oklahoma, after the student pilot realized he touched down at the wrong airport. The student pilot was uninjured. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The airplane was registered to and operated by US Aviation Group LLC under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as an instructional flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which operated on a visual flight rules flight plan. The flight originated from Denton Municipal Airport, Denton, Texas, about 1720 and was destined to Ardmore Municipal Airport Ardmore, Oklahoma. NTSB Identification: WPR12FA222 Accident occurred Monday, May 21, 2012 in Glendale, CA Aircraft: CESSNA P210N, registration: Injuries: 1 Minor. On May 21, 2012, about 2110 Pacific daylight time (PDT), a Cessna P210N, impacted a power pole and tree during a forced landing, and came to rest inverted in the front yard of a residence near Glendale, California. The co-owner/pilot was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91. The private pilot sustained minor injuries; the airplane sustained substantial damage. The personal crosscountry flight departed Phoenix, Arizona, about 1810 mountain standard time, with a planned destination of Van Nuys, California. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The pilot reported that while descending below 9,000 feet mean sea level (msl) he experienced a severe surging of the engine. He advised air traffic controllers that he had an emergency, and needed the closest airport. The controller advised the pilot that the nearest airport was El Monte airport (EMT), El Monte, California, which was located behind him and to the south. He was also told that Bob Hope Airport (BUR), Burbank, California, was in front of him. The pilot was familiar with BUR and felt it was his best choice to attempt to land at BUR. As the pilot got closer to the airport, he determined he was not going to be able to land at the airport. He attempted to land on a quiet street but he did not see the power lines until it was too late. The airplane impacted a telephone/power pole on the northwest corner of Cleveland Road and Glenwood Road in the city of Glendale. The airplane continued westbound hitting an oak tree and a vehicle. The airplane came to rest inverted in the front yard of a residence on Glenwood Road.
The National Transportation Safety Board investigator-in-charge responded to the scene and documented the accident site prior to the recovery of the airplane. The debris field was approximately 120 feet in length from the first identified point of impact to the main wreckage. The airplane was recovered for further examination. NTSB Identification: ERA12LA267 Accident occurred Tuesday, April 03, 2012 in Eastover, SC Aircraft: PIPER PA-28R-200, registration: Injuries: 2 Uninjured. On April 3, 2012, about 1400 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-28R-200, was substantially damaged during a forced landing at McEntire Joint National Guard Base (MMT), Eastover, South Carolina. The certificated private pilot and the passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The airplane was not operating on a flight plan, from Barnwell Regional Airport (BNL), Barnwell, South Carolina, to Tappahannock-Essex County Airport (XSA), Tappahannock, Virginia. The personal flight was conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. According to the pilot, the previous evening, he added one quart of oil to the engine, and in the morning, prior to a first flight from Lakeland Linder Regional Airport (LAL), Lakeland, Florida, to BNL, he conducted a complete preflight inspection. After arriving at BNL, and subsequent to refueling, the pilot completed another walk-around inspection. The airplane departed BNL about 1330, and approximately 25 minutes later, the [Lycoming IO-360-C1C] engine began to run rough. The pilot checked the magnetos, and noted that all four cylinder head temperatures and all four exhaust gas temperatures were normal. The pilot reduced power to 20 inches and 2,000 rpm, but engine roughness increased, and oil pressure dropped to zero in about 1 minute. The pilot planned to divert to Columbia Metropolitan Airport (CAE), Columbia, South Carolina; however, the airplane had descended to 1,500 feet when he saw MMT, and he decided to divert to runway 32. Because of rapidity in which the forced landing developed, the pilot did not have time to change to the tower frequency, and as he approached the runway, he saw an F-16 take off from runway 14. After another F-16 took off from runway 14, the accident airplane was caught in its wake turbulence and rolled about 45 degrees. As the airplane continued to descend, through about 100 feet agl, the pilot was able to recover it to wings level but did not have sufficient altitude to properly align with the runway. He landed the airplane at a 20- to 30-degree angle to the runway, and it veered off the right side. To avoid a terrain drop off, the pilot then aligned the airplane parallel to the runway but it struck a runway remaining sign traveling at approximately 50 mph before coming to a stop. After deplaning, the pilot observed engine oil covering the nose landing gear and the landing gear doors.
Subsequent examination of the airplane revealed that the engine #2 cylinder upper aft through-bolt was sheared off, the #2 cylinder upper mounting studs were loose and backed off from the crank case, and the crank case was cracked, with oil leaking in the vicinity of the #2 cylinder lower aft through-bolt. NTSB Identification: WPR12CA153 Accident occurred Tuesday, April 03, 2012 in Johnson Valley, CA Aircraft: CESSNA 172, registration: Injuries: 1 Minor. WPR12CA153 An acquaintance of the pilot had expressed an interest in learning to fly the pilot s newly purchased airplane, and the pilot agreed to provide a demonstration/introductory flight. The acquaintance had no prior flight experience. On the morning of the planned flight, the pilot discovered that the airplane battery was dead and decided to hand-prop the engine to start it. He instructed the passenger, seated in the left seat, how to operate the brakes and throttle. The engine was hand-propped and started successfully by the pilot, but the airplane began to move forward. The pilot was unable to board the airplane, and the passenger was unable to control or stop the airplane, or shut down the engine. The airplane departed its parking spot, crossed a runway, and struck a ground-mounted solar panel array located about 200 feet away. An eyewitness reported that the engine rpm increased and the airplane accelerated as it traversed the airport. The airplane sustained damage to the propeller, engine mount, firewall, windscreen, wings, and nose landing gear. Four solar panels were also damaged. The passenger stated that due to inexperience, he was unable to properly operate the brakes, but he could not recall whether he attempted to manipulate the throttle during the event. NTSB Identification: WPR12LA161 Accident occurred Saturday, April 07, 2012 in Casper, WY Aircraft: PIPER PA-28-181, registration: Injuries: 2 Minor. On April 7, 2012, about 1830 mountain daylight time, a Piper PA-28-181, force landed into a field near Casper, Wyoming, following a loss of engine power. The pilot was operating the airplane under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The student pilot and passenger sustained minor injuries. The crosscountry flight departed Riverton Regional Airport, Riverton, Wyoming, about 1730, with a planned destination of Mitchell Municipal Airport, Mitchell, South Dakota. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The pilot reported that after reaching cruise altitude he observed a decrease in engine oil pressure. He continued to monitor the pressure indicator, and did not see a corresponding increase in oil temperature. He began to divert the airplane to Casper, and a few minutes later the engine speed began to decrease, with an accompanying engine vibration. He continued the diversion as the engine progressively began to lose power. The engine eventually lost all power, and the propeller stopped rotating.
The pilot was not in communication with any air traffic control facility at the time of the power loss, and subsequently transmitted a mayday call on the guard frequency. This transmission was heard by a United Airlines commercial airline flight crew, who relayed the information to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Salt Lake City Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC). The pilot subsequently landed in a field, where the airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage during the accident sequence. An FAA inspector responded to the accident site, and reported oil was still present within the engine crankcase, with fuel present in both wing tanks. -----------------