Northeast Philadelphia Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19114
Sunday, April 9, 2006 10:30 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

During the takeoff, the pilot heard a loud noise and the engine began to vibrate "severely." The pilot realized that it would not be possible to return to the airport, and elected to land straight ahead. The airplane came to rest approximately 500-700 feet beyond the departure end of the runway. Examination of the airplane revealed that the engine's number 3 cylinder had separated from the engine case. Examination of the number 3 cylinder revealed that it had separated from the engine due to fatigue of the cylinder attachment studs and both through bolts. The fatigue initiated in the lower aft stud and progressed to the other studs and bolts. The engine had accumulated 1,407 total hours of operation since its most recent overhaul.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

A fatigue failure of the number 3 cylinder attachment studs, which resulted in a loss of engine power and subsequent forced landing.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/9/2006
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1030
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Philadelphia
Event State PENNSYLVANIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 19114
Event Date Year 2006
Event Date Month 4
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 400490N
Event Location Longitude 0750038W
Event Location Airport Northeast Philadelphia Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID PNE
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 121
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 954 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID PNE
Elevation of weather observation facility 121
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
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) 6
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -4
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 10
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 11
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.14
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 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 21006
NTSB Notification Source EROC
NTSB Notification Date Apr 9 2006 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Feb 26 2007 11:14AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\lema
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Philadelphia FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N901AV
NTSB Number NYC06LA089
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-28RT-201
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 28R-8118029
Certified Max Gross Weight 2750
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
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 Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Northeast Aviation Inc.
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Philadelphia
Aircraft Owner State PA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 19154
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name NORTHEAST AVIATION INC
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 NAHA
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) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code PNE
Departure City Philadelphia
Departure State PA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1030
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code N87
Destination City Robbinsville
Destination State NJ
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Dec 6 2006 3:11PM
User who most recently changed record MUZD
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location NA
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --