Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Boca Raton, Florida 33434
Thursday, February 8, 1996 8:45 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The airplane was climbing through 4,000 feet when the pilot heard a 'pop' and the engine started shaking. The pilot made a forced landing to a golf course. On landing roll out the pilot made a turn to the left to avoid some golfers who did not move. The right wing of the airplane collided with a tree. Examination of the engine revealed the number 3 cylinder hold down studs and nut failed due to fatigue.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the partial loss of engine power due to the fatigue failure of the number 3 cylinder hold down studs and nut. A factor was the pilot'e evasive maneuver to avoid golphers on a golf course.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 2/8/1996
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 845
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City BOCA RATON
Event State FLORIDA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 33434
Event Date Year 1996
Event Date Month 2
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 853 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 330
Weather Observation Facility ID PBI
Elevation of weather observation facility 19
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 15
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 4500
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 21
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 11
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 100
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 11
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 96
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Feb 8 1996 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 933
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2000 9:51AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N55329
NTSB Number MIA96LA075
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-28R
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-28R
Aircraft Serial Number 28R-7385217
Certified Max Gross Weight 2650
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Jan 25 1996 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 9
Airframe Hours 5326
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name PFT INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 1685 WEST COMMERCIAL BLVD
Aircraft Owner City FORT LAUDERDALE
Aircraft Owner State FL
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 33309
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name PFT INC.
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 1685 WEST COMMERCIAL BLVD
Operator City FORT LAUDERDALE
Operator State FL
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 33309
Operator Code XPTS
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Instructional
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code FXE
Departure City FORT LAUDERDALE
Departure State FL
Departure Country
Departure Time 826
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code ORL
Destination City ORLANDO
Destination State FL
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Climb
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:30AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --