NTSB Factual Report

HISTORY OF THE FLIGHT

On June 3, 2001, about 1611 central daylight time, a Piper PA-31-T2, N31XL, registered to Falcon Communications, Inc., crashed near Jackson, Tennessee, while on a 14 CFR Part 91 corporate flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and an instrument flight rules flight plan was filed. The airplane was destroyed and the commercial-rated pilot and four passengers were fatally injured. The flight originated from Malden, Missouri, the same day, about 1525.

Transcript of communications, from the FAA Memphis Air Route Traffic Control Center, show that at 1526:49, the pilot of N31XL reported to the controller that they were off Malden, Missouri, and requesting a instrument flight rules clearance to Fulton County Airport, Atlanta, Georgia. The pilot was given the clearance and told to climb and maintain 23,000 feet. At 1550:52, the pilot reported the flight was level at 23,000 feet. At 1552:15, the pilot of N31XL reported that he had a problem with an engine and needed to shut it down and find somewhere to land. The controller reported to the pilot that the flight was over the McKellar-Sipes Regional Airport, Jackson, Tennessee, and that the flight could descend to 7,000 feet. At 1553:42, the pilot was told that the airport was seven miles behind him. The pilot responded that he was trying to get down and would keep circling. The controller cleared the flight to circle as necessary and to descend to 2,500 feet. At 1601:47, the pilot reported that the flight was descending through 8,000 feet and request that the flight be set up for the instrument landing system approach to runway 2 at McKellar-Sipes. The controller instructed the pilot to maintain 3,500 feet and to fly heading 185 degrees for radar vectors to the final approach course.

At 1602:26, the controller asked the pilot to confirm his previous transmission that he did not need the emergency equipment standing by at the airport. The pilot confirmed he did not need the emergency equipment. At 1603:21, the controller asked the pilot which engine was shutdown. The pilot responded the left engine was shutdown. At 1606:12, the controller instructed the pilot to fly heading 200. The pilot acknowledged. At 1606:51, the controller instructed the pilot to maintain 3,500 feet. The pilot acknowledged. At 1607:12, the controller asked the pilot if he was turning right to 200 degrees. The pilot responded "one xray lima we got a prop runaway here we're gonna have to make a three sixty to come down to two zero zero for xray lima". At 1607:29, the pilot reported the flight was in visual flight rules conditions and requested radar vectors to the airport. The controller instructed the pilot to fly heading 340 degrees to the airport. The controller also stated he could give the flight a lower altitude, but would lose radar contact with the flight. The pilot responded that would be fine and the controller cleared the flight to 2,500 feet.

At 1609:34, the controller reported to the pilot that radar contact was lost, to report the airport in sight, and to expect a visual approach to runway 2. At 1609:59, the controller asked the pilot his distance from the airport. The pilot responded about 10 miles. The controller asked if the flight was in good visual flight rules conditions. The pilot responded that a cloud deck had just passed under him but that he should be able to intercept the localizer course for runway 2. At 1610:52, the controller instructed the pilot to contact the McKellar-Sipes Airport controller on frequency 127.15. The pilot asked for the frequency again and the controller repeated it. At 1611:04, the pilot responded "twenty seven fifteen one xray lima". No further communications were received from the pilot. (See transcripts of communications).

Recorded radar data from the FAA Memphis Air Route Traffic Control Center showed the flight climbed to and reached 23,000 feet at 1549:18, at a position about 20 nm south of McKellar-Sipes Airport. The flights groundspeed was 212 knots at this time. The flight maintained about 23,000 feet, on a 148 degree heading, and accelerated to a groundspeed of 241 knots. At 1553:02, the flight began a descent, and entered a right turn. The airplane continued in the turning descent with the groundspeed fluctuating between 150 and 200 knots until about 1606, when it had completed a 360 degree turn and was now flying a southerly heading, at 3,500 feet, at a 182 knot groundspeed. At about 1607, the flight began a left turn, descended to 2,600 feet, and decelerated to 119 knots groundspeed. At 1607:50, the flight was lost from radar about 14 nm, on a heading of 160 degrees from the McKellar-Sipes Airport and about 7 nm, on a heading of 145 degrees from the accident site. The flight was flying on a 121 degree heading, at 2,600 feet, at a 119 knot groundspeed. (See radar data).

A witness located about 7 miles southeast of the accident site, in the area that the airplane was last observed on radar, stated that he was inside his house and his attention was drawn to the airplane by the sound of the airplane's engines. One engine was surging. He went outside and observed the airplane to the south of his position. The airplane was flying on a east-southeast heading at an estimated altitude of 2,000-2,500 feet agl. He lost view of the airplane behind trees, but continued to hear the engine surging and it appeared the airplane was making a left turn. The airplane came back into view to the northeast of his position and it had descended to between 1,000 and 1,500 feet agl, and was flying on a west-northwest heading. He lost sight of the airplane to the north-northwest of his position.

Another witness located about 7 miles from the accident site, in the area that radar contact was lost, stated that he, his wife, and his son, observed the airplane from their house, flying toward the northeast at about 1,000 feet agl. The airplane then made a 90-degree heading change toward the northwest, heading in the direction of the McKellar-Sipes Airport. The landing gear was not down and they observed no smoke coming from the airplane. One of the engines RPM was oscillating and the other engine sounded like the propeller was feathered and the engine was running, sounding more like a helicopter. The airplanes nose was pitched up and he thought the pilot was searching for a place to put the airplane down. They lost site of the airplane behind trees.

Witnesses near the accident site observed the airplane flying at an altitude of 150 feet, below a cloud layer. The airplane was flying from the southeast toward the northwest. The airplane then made a gradual turn to the left and then suddenly turned fast to the left. The engines sounded like they would speed up and then slow down. They lost sight of the airplane behind trees, heading to the west. The engines were not running smooth and he heard engine noise stop, then start, and then stop again. About 10 seconds later, they heard tree branches breaking and then a loud pop sound. They went in the direction they last saw the airplane and located the airplane wreckage. A small fire was burning in the nose and right engine area of the airplane. (See witness statements).

PERSONNEL INFORMATION

The pilot held a FAA commercial pilot certificate with airplane single engine land, airplane multiengine land, and instrument airplane ratings, issued on May 5, 1989. The pilot held a FAA certified flight instructor certificate with airplane single engine land, airplane multiengine land, and instrument airplane ratings, issued on March 17, 2000. The pilot held a FAA first class medical certificate, issued on October 17, 2000, with the limitation that the bearer must wear corrective lenses while exercising the privileges of the certificate. Logbook records show the pilot had accumulated about 9,500 total flight hours, about 9,390 flight hours as pilot-in-command, and 13 flight hours in the Piper PA-31-T2 airplane. The pilot attended the FlightSafety International, Piper Cheyenne I/IA/II/IIXL Pilot Initial Training Course, at Lakeland, Florida, between May 21 and May 25, 2001. During the course the pilot obtained 10 flight hours in a flight simulator for the airplane, and completed a biennial flight review and an instrument proficiency check. (See pilot records).

The pilot-rated passenger seated in the right front seat of the airplane held a FAA private pilot certificate with a airplane single engine land rating, issued on October 2, 2000. The pilot-rated passenger held a FAA third class medical certificate with no limitations, issued on July 1, 1999. FAA records show that at the time the pilot-rated passenger received the private pilot certificate, he reported having 64 total flight hours with 25 flight hours as pilot-in-command. (See supplement E).

AIRPLANE INFORMATION

The airplane was a Piper Aircraft Corporation model PA-31-T2, registration number N31XL, serial number 31T-8166003, manufactured in August 1981. The airplane was equipped with 2 Pratt and Whitney Canada model PT6A-135, 620 horsepower engines, and 2 Hartzell model HC-B3TN-3B/T10178B-8R propellers.

Logbook records show that on December 3, 1998, at airplane total time 5852.6, the left propeller governor control cable was replaced and rigged. Federal Aviation Administration records show the airplane received damage during a landing gear retracted landing at Lexington, Kentucky, on August 2, 1999. Logbook records show that on September 23, 1999, at airplane total time 5962.4, the left and right engines were removed for a sudden stoppage inspection. On April 18, 2000, the engines and repaired propellers were reinstalled on the airplane, and after some repairs to the airframe, the airplane was ferried from Lexington, Kentucky, to Washington, Pennsylvania. On July 11, 2000, at airplane total time 5964.6, after additional repairs and accomplishment of an Event No. 1 and No. 2/Annual Inspection, in accordance with the Piper Maintenance Manual, the airplane was returned to service. On April 19, 2001, at airplane total time 6012.1, several system repairs and inspections were performed. On May 3, 2001, the airplane received a pre-purchase inspection with several discrepancies being noted.

Logbook records show the left engine, serial No. PCE-92178, was last overhauled on March 28, 1988, at airplane total time 3595.0. The engine was removed for a sudden stoppage inspection on September 23, 1999, at airplane total time 5962.4 and engine total time 5867.4. The engine was reinstalled after the sudden stoppage inspection on March 31, 2000. The engine was last inspected on July 11, 2000, at airplane total time 5964.6, after accomplishment of an Event No. 1 and No. 2/Annual Inspection, in accordance with the Piper Maintenance Manual.

Logbook records show the right engine, serial number PCE-92206, received a sudden stoppage inspection on March 16, 1998, at airplane total time 5772.5. On September 23, 1999, at airplane total time 5962.4 and engine total time 5867.4, the engine was removed for a sudden stoppage inspection, which resulted in the engine being overhauled on January 3, 2000. On March 31, 2000, the engine was reinstalled on the airplane. On July 11, 2000, at airplane total time 5964.6 and engine total time 5869.6, the engine was inspected in accordance with an Event No. 1 and No. 2/Annual Inspection, in accordance with the Piper Maintenance Manual.

Logbook records show the left propeller was overhauled on November 13, 1999, and reinstalled on the airplane on March 31, 2000. The propeller was last inspected on July 11, 2000, at airplane total time 5964.6, after accomplishment of an Event No. 1 and No. 2/Annual Inspection, in accordance with the Piper Maintenance Manual.

Logbook records show the right propeller was overhauled on October 26, 1999, and reinstalled on the airplane on March 31, 2000. The propeller was last inspected on July 11, 2000, at airplane total time 5964.6, after accomplishment of an Event No. 1 and No. 2/Annual Inspection, in accordance with the Piper Maintenance Manual. (See Airplane Logbook Records).

WEIGHT AND BALANCE INFORMATION

Calculations show that at the time of the accident the airplane weighed about 8,780 pounds, and the center of gravity was located at 135.3 inches aft of the datum. The maximum takeoff weight for the airplane is 9,474 pounds and the center of gravity limits for 9,000 pounds are 128.8 inches aft of the datum forward limit and 136.0 inches aft of the datum aft limit.

METEOROLOGICAL INFORMATION

Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The McKellar-Spies Regional Airport, Jackson, Tennessee, 1553 surface weather observation was wind 060 degrees at 4 knots, visibility 10 statute miles, light rain, clouds overcast at 2,400 feet agl, temperature 18 degrees C, dew point temperature 17 degrees C, altimeter setting 29.88 inches Hg. The airport is located 7 nm north of the accident site.

WRECKAGE AND IMPACT INFORMATION

The airplane crashed in a wooded area adjacent to Little Johnson Creek, located northeast of Rochelle Road, Jackson, Tennessee. The crash site coordinates were 35 degrees, 29 minutes, 44 seconds North latitude and 88 degrees, 54 minutes, 14 seconds West longitude. The crash site elevation was approximately 560 feet msl. The crash site was located approximately 7 nm south of the McKellar-Sipes Regional Airport.

Examination of the crash site showed the airplane collided with the tops of about 75-foot tall trees on the east side of the creek, while on a 240 degree heading. The airplane then crossed over the creek, collided with additional trees, while in about a 15-degree left bank and 25-degree descent angle, impacting on about 15-degree up sloping terrain. The airplane traveled up the up sloping terrain for about 100 feet, colliding with additional trees, before coming to rest upright. The left outboard wing, outboard left horizontal stabilizer, and the right outboard wing separated along the up sloping terrain. The left inboard wing separated from the fuselage, the right propeller separated from the engine, and the right engine separated from the right wing just prior to the airplane coming to rest. A postcrash fire erupted in the nose and cockpit area of the airplane.

Examination of the crash site showed that all components of the airplane which are necessary for flight were located on or around the main wreckage of the airplane. The landing gear were found retracted and the wing flaps were in the retracted position. Continuity of the flight control system was confirmed. All separation points within the flight control system was consistent with overstress separation. The rudder trim was found set to the 45-degree tab left (nose right) position, which is full nose right trim. The elevator trim was found set to the 18-degree tab down or airplane nose up position. The aileron trim was found set to the 15-degree tab down or right wing down position. Examination of the airframe and engine fuel system showed that each fuel tank contained fuel at the time of the accident. All fuel lines were found unobstructed and the fuel filters for each engine did not contain any contamination.

Examination of the left engine at the accident site showed it was still attached to the left inboard wing, which had separated from the airplane and was lying adjacent to the left rear area of the fuselage. The left propeller was still attached to the engine. The left propeller control was found disconnected at the point the propeller control extension bracket attaches to the propeller governor. The propeller control cable had also pulled loose from a swaged point at the control rod and was also separated further aft due to overstress. The housing for the propeller control rod was found securely attached to the engine and the control rod was securely attached to the extension bracket. The propeller governor control arm, which was disconnected from the propeller control cable and rod, was found spring loaded into the high RPM position. The left engine condition lever was found in the off position at the engine and the left engine power lever was found in the idle position at the engine. The left power lever in the cockpit was found 1/2 inch above the idle po

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's shutting down the left engine following loss of control of the left propeller resulting in an in-flight loss of control of the airplane due to the windmilling propeller. Factors in the accident were the failure of the propeller control bracket assembly due to fatigue, the pilot's lack of experience in the type of airplane (turbo propeller) and the absence of a procedure for loss of propeller control in the airplane's flight manual.