Griffin Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Griffith, Indiana 46319
Friday, June 23, 1989 16:00 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

AIRCRAFT WAS ON A POST MAINTENANCE CHECK FLIGHT TO TEST THE PRESSURIZATION AND AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEMS PRIOR TO BEING RETURNED TO SERVICE. WITHIN A MINUTE AFTER TAKEOFF, PILOT NOTICED A LOSS OF MANIFOLD PRESSURE ON LEFT ENGINE FOLLOWED BY AN ALTERNATOR FAILURE LIGHT. PILOT IMMEDIATELY RETURNED TO AIRPORT. LEFT ENGINE CONTROLS SEIZED AND LEFT ENGINE HAD TO BE SECURED BY MAGNETO SWITCH. INVESTIGATION REVEALED MISSING CLAMP ON OUTBOARD TURBOCHARGER EXHAUST TAILPIPE ASSEMBLY. THERE WAS EVIDENCE OF FIRE AND EXTREME HEAT ON THE FIREWALL AND ENGINE ACCESSORY AREA. EXAMINATION OF THE AREA BEHIND THE FIREWALL REVEALED 16 INCHES OF MAIN WING SPAR WEB HAD MELTED AWAY.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

FAILURE OF THE TURBOCHARGER EXHAUST TAILPIPE ASSEMBLY RETAINING CLAMP.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/23/1989
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1600
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City GRIFFITH
Event State INDIANA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 46319
Event Date Year 1989
Event Date Month 6
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport GRIFFIN
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 05C
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 640
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) 15
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 31
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 270
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 5
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) 2100
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jun 30 1989 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 930
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 41600
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 12:45PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N6907C
NTSB Number CHI89FA122
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 In-flight
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-60-700P
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-60-700P
Aircraft Serial Number 60-8423020
Certified Max Gross Weight 6356
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 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jun 18 1988 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 67
Airframe Hours 395
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name CAS, INC
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 470
Aircraft Owner City LANSING
Aircraft Owner State IL
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 60438
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name CAS, INC.
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address P.O. BOX 470
Operator City LANSING
Operator State IL
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 60438
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
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1600
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 Takeoff
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 26
Runway Length 4000
Runway Width 50
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --