Barnwell Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Barnwell, South Carolina 29812
Saturday, April 16, 1988 14:00 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

DURING INITIAL CLIMB AFTER TAKEOFF RIGHT SIDE OF THE ENGINE COWLING UNFASTENED AND BEGAN FLUTTERING VIOLENTLY. THE INSTRUCTOR ASSUMED CONTROL OF ACFT & MADE A FORCED LANDING STRAIGHT AHEAD INTO A CULTIVATED FIELD. THE ACFT NOSED UP SUSTAINING SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE DURING THE LANDING ROLL. AN FAA INSPECTOR AT THE AIRPORT WITNESSED THE ACCIDENT & EXAMINED THE ACFT AFTER THE ACCIDENT. HE RPTED THAT THE DZEUS FASTENERS IN THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE TOP PORTION OF THE COWL WERE ABSENT. THE REASON FOR THE LOSS OF THE FASTENERS WAS NOT DETERMINED. A MAINTENANCE INSPECTION WAS PERFORMED 20 MINUTES PRIOR TO THE FLT. THE TAKEOFF WAS BEGUN AT A RWY INTERSECTION LEAVING ABOUT 2500 FT OF A 5,118 FT RWY FOR THE TAKEOFF.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/16/1988
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1400
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City BARNWELL
Event State SOUTH CAROLINA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 29812
Event Date Year 1988
Event Date Month 4
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport BARNWELL
Event Location Nearest Airport ID BNL
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 246
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 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 20
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) --
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 180
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 7
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
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) 574
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Apr 18 1988 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 800
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 36443
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 11:40AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N4233E
NTSB Number ATL88LA145
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-38-112
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-38-112
Aircraft Serial Number 3878A0498
Certified Max Gross Weight 1670
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 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Feb 6 1988 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 20
Airframe Hours 4037
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name HAROLD N. STARLING, JR.
Aircraft Owner Street Address ROUTE 2 BOX 215A
Aircraft Owner City BAMBERG
Aircraft Owner State SC
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 29003
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name CRYSTAL AVIATION, INC.
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address ROUTE 2, BOX 215A
Operator City BAMBERG
Operator State SC
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 29003
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) Instructional
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code BNL
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1400
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code 99N
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
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 34
Runway Length 5118
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --