Airlake Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Lakeville, Minnesota 55044
Friday, October 31, 1997 17:15 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot reported that no abnormalities were found during preflight, engine start, or run-up. He said the manifold pressure, RPM, and engine gauges were all normal during the takeoff roll and takeoff. Also, he reported that after climbing to approximately 125 feet AGL, just beyond the threshold of the runway, the airplane experienced a sudden and complete power loss, 'as if the engine was being starved for fuel.' About two seconds later, the engine surged, and then quit again. The pilot landed straight ahead in a freshly plowed field. During the landing, the airplane rolled across about 300 feet of rough terrain before the nose gear collapsed. A postaccident examination and test run the engine were performed. The engine started and ran normally. Examination of the mixture control cable revealed that a rubber grommet in the 'Adel clamp,' which secured the mixture control cable outer housing, had deteriorated. This permitted the control cable and outer cable housing to shift aft.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

fuel starvation due a deteriorated grommet in an Adel clamp, and a loose mixture control cable.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 10/31/1997
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1715
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City LAKEVILLE
Event State MINNESOTA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 55044
Event Date Year 1997
Event Date Month 10
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport AIRLAKE
Event Location Nearest Airport ID LVN
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 960
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1717 Central Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 90
Weather Observation Facility ID LVN
Elevation of weather observation facility 960
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 1
Time Zone of the weather observation CST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 7500
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
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) 12
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 9
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 200
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 9
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
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) 952
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Oct 31 1997 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2000
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2000 12:36PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N3359W
NTSB Number CHI98LA037
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Piper
Aircraft Model PA-32-260
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-32-260
Aircraft Serial Number 32-205
Certified Max Gross Weight 3400
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 6
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Aug 30 1997 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 30
Airframe Hours 3600
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name 59 INCORPORATED
Aircraft Owner Street Address 21140 HONEYCOMB PATH
Aircraft Owner City LAKEVILLE
Aircraft Owner State MN
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 55044
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
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) Unknown
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code LVN
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1715
Departure Time Zone CST
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Emergency landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 29
Runway Length 4800
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --