Bedford Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Bedford, Massachusetts 01730
Sunday, April 8, 1990 12:40 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

A PIPER PA-32-301T WAS ON CLIMB OUT FROM BEDFORD, AT AN ALTITUDE OF ABOUT 600 FEET AGL WHEN THE ENGINE STOPPED RUNNING. THE PILOT MADE AN EMERGENCY LANDING ON A TAXIWAY AND LANDED HARD, COLLAPSING THE LANDING GEAR. EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE SHOWED THE EXHAUST INTERMEDIATE PIPE FLANGE FAILED AND SEPARATED FROM THE CROSSOVER PIPE. HOT GASES MELTED THE INSULATION ON THE 'P' LEADS OF THE MAGNETO SHORTING IT OUT. THE EXHAUST INTERMEDIATE PIPE AND THE CROSSOVER PIPE WERE IMPROPERLY INSTALLED.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

FAILURE OF THE EXHAUST SYSTEM AND SUBSEQUENT MELTING/SHORTING OF THE MAGNETO P-LEADS.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/8/1990
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1240
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City BEDFORD
Event State MASSACHUSETTS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 01730
Event Date Year 1990
Event Date Month 4
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport BEDFORD
Event Location Nearest Airport ID BED
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 133
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 5000
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) 50
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 5
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 280
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 13
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 30
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 889
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Apr 9 1990 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 840
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 42061
Date of most recent change to record Dec 12 2000 4:54PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N363CC
NTSB Number NYC90LA084
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-32R-301T
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-32R-301
Aircraft Serial Number 32R8029071
Certified Max Gross Weight 3600
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 Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Apr 21 1989 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 219
Airframe Hours 1477
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Yes
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name R. BRIGGS/E. WALTER/B. SHULMAN
Aircraft Owner Street Address 44 FARRAR ROAD
Aircraft Owner City LINCOLN
Aircraft Owner State MA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 01773
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name RANDAL L.BRIGGS
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 44 FARIAR ROAD
Operator City LINCOLN
Operator State MA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 01773
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) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1135
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code BTV
Destination City BURLINGTON
Destination State VT
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Climb
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:35AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 29
Runway Length 7001
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --