Peachtree-Dekalb Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Atlanta, Georgia
Monday, June 14, 1982 16:49 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF, A LOUD NOISE WAS HEARD AND SPARKS WERE OBSERVED COMING FROM THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE RIGHT ENGINE. THE AIRCREW ATTEMPTED TO FEATHER THE RIGHT ENGINE, BUT IT WOULD NOT FEATHER. THEY WERE UNABLE TO MAINTAIN ALTITUDE AND DESCENDED INTO TREES. AFTER STRIKING TREES, THE PLANE CAME TO REST ON THE ROOF OF A HOUSE. THE AIRCRAFT BURST INTO FLAMES ABOUT 5 TO 10 MIN AFTER THE CRASH. A POLICE OFFICER THAT HAD RESPONDED AND HAD CLIMBED ONTO THE ROOF WAS REPORTEDLY THROWN OFF BY AN EXPLOSION. HE RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES. AN EXAMINATION OF THE RIGHT ENGINE REVEALED THAT ONE BLADE OF THE MODEL HC-82XG PROPELLER DID NOT FEATHER AND WAS FREE TO MOVE. THE RETAINING CLAMP ON THIS BLADE WAS CRACKED AND HAD A PORTION MISSING. A METALLURGICAL EXAMINATION REVEALED THAT IT HAD FAILED FROM HIGH CYCLE FATIGUE. HARTZELL PROPELLER SERVICE BULLETIN, NO 126, DATED 12/9/80, RECOMMENDED THAT THIS CLAMP (AN OLD MODEL) BE REPLACED BY A NEW IMPROVED TYPE. NO OTHER PREIMPACT FAILURES WERE FOUND.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/14/1982
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1649
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City ATLANTA
Event State GEORGIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site
Event Date Year 1982
Event Date Month 6
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude --
Event Location Longitude --
Event Location Airport PEACHTREE-DEKALB
Event Location Nearest Airport ID PDK
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 0
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Unknown
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID PDK
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 4000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Unknown
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) 85
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 0
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 340
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 7
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 0
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 1
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 2
Injury Total All 3
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 2462
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information
Date of most recent change to record Oct 31 2002 4:04PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\ZUZL
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N4072P
NTSB Number ATL82FA163
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire Ground
Aircraft Explosion Ground
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-23-160
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-23-160
Aircraft Serial Number 23-1550
Certified Max Gross Weight 3500
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class Unknown
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection 18
Airframe Hours 5339
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name TRANSAMERICAN AIRWAYS
Aircraft Owner Street Address 106 ADMIN. BLDG. PDK AIRPORT
Aircraft Owner City
Aircraft Owner State
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name MARK HEWLETT
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 1500 BECKHAM DRIVE
Operator City BIRMINGHAM
Operator State AL
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
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 Unknown
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code PDK
Departure City ATLANTA
Departure State GA
Departure Country
Departure Time 1645
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code PDK
Destination City ATLANTA
Destination State GA
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Sep 18 2002 4:50PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 9
Runway Length 3378
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --