Orange County Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Montgomery, New York 12549
Sunday, May 4, 2003 23:00 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

During the nighttime departure, the airplane accelerated normally, with the engine producing full power during the takeoff roll and initial climb. Upon reaching approximately 300 to 400 feet above the ground, the engine began to lose power. The CFI took the flight controls and performed a forced landing. During the landing rollout, the airplane rolled through a shallow drainage swale, collapsing the nose and right main gear assemblies. The airplane rotated to the right and came to rest upright. Examination of the wreckage revealed that the fuel line, which ran between the fuel pump and the carburetor, was loose at the connection point on the carburetor. When the electric fuel pump was activated, fuel was observed spraying from the connection point. The airplane had accumulated about 20 hours of operation since a 100-hour inspection was performed 10 days prior to the accident. According to 14 CFR Part 43 Appendix D - Scope and Detail of Items (as Applicable to the Particular Aircraft) To Be Included in Annual and 100 Hour Inspections, "Each person performing an annual or 100 hour inspection shall inspect (where applicable) components of the engine and nacelle group..."

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The inadequate 100-hour inspection by maintenance personnel, which resulted in a loose fuel line and loss of power. A factor related to the accident was the dark night conditions.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/4/2003
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 2300
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Montgomery
Event State NEW YORK
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 12549
Event Date Year 2003
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 413035N
Event Location Longitude 0741552W
Event Location Airport Orange County Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID MGJ
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 0.5
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 365
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 2254 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID MGJ
Elevation of weather observation facility 365
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Night/Dark
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 7
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 6
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator Variable
Wind Speed (knots) --
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.17
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 15752
NTSB Notification Source EASTERN REG OPS CTR
NTSB Notification Date May 5 2003 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 923
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Jun 30 2004 12:15PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office FSDO-25 Teterboro, NJ

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N55854
NTSB Number NYC03LA096
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Piper
Aircraft Model PA-28-180
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 28-7305485
Certified Max Gross Weight 2450
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 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Apr 25 2003 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 20
Airframe Hours 5603
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name KS Aircorp
Aircraft Owner Street Address 3511 Silverside Rd.
Aircraft Owner City Wilmington
Aircraft Owner State DE
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 19810
Operator is an individual? No
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? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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 MGJ
Departure City Montgomery
Departure State NY
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 2300
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code SWF
Destination City Newburgh
Destination State NY
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff - initial climb
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Apr 9 2004 1:33PM
User who most recently changed record PEAR
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 3
Runway Length 5006
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --