Accident Overview
On May 18, 2010, at approximately 0900 central daylight time, a Piper PA-32R-301T single-engine airplane, registration N6911Z, sustained substantial damage when it collided with a fence after experiencing a loss of engine power during takeoff from Alpine-Casparis Municipal Airport (E38), Alpine, Texas. The private pilot and passenger were not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot. No flight plan was filed for the planned flight to Fort Stockton, Texas. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight conducted under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.
Pilot's Account
According to the pilot's written statement, he started the airplane, taxied to the fuel pump, shut down the engine, and topped off both wing tanks with 100LL aviation gasoline. After restarting the engine, he taxied to Runway 19 and performed an engine run-up. The pilot stated that during takeoff, he normally advances the throttle, propeller control, and mixture from left to right and monitors exhaust gas temperature (EGT) to keep it in the high 1300 to low 1400 degrees Fahrenheit range. On this takeoff roll, the EGT reading reached 1450 degrees, prompting him to increase mixture to lower the temperature. The pilot noted that the roll out seemed as expected given no wind and an uphill runway gradient. He rotated around the midpoint of the 6,003-foot-long runway and began to climb, but the engine seemed to slow. He checked the throttle, propeller control, and mixture positions, observing an EGT of 1440 degrees. Concerned about the EGT reading and the engine spooling down, he attempted to land. With the landing gear extended, the airplane touched down at the end of the runway, departed the runway, and collided with a woven deer fence before coming to a stop.
Aircraft Examination
Photographs taken by the Texas Department of Public Safety showed that the landing gear had collapsed, the right wing was displaced upward, and a portion of the leading edge was torn from the wing.
On June 21, 2010, the engine was examined under the supervision of the investigator-in-charge, with representatives from Lycoming Engines and Piper Aircraft Incorporated present. The engine was manually rotated via the propeller; compression and valve train continuity were established on each cylinder, and spark was produced on all ignition leads. The top spark plugs were removed and appeared dark in color.
The examination revealed that the flexible hose and two clamps connecting the intercooler to the turbocharger outlet were not installed properly, causing the flexible hose to slide out of position. This condition resulted in a higher EGT reading and the engine spooling down, as described by the pilot.
Maintenance History
A review of the maintenance logbooks showed that the engine had been overhauled in January 2007 and installed on the airplane in February 2007, using the same propeller and accessories. No entries were made after the engine installation regarding maintenance to either the intercooler or the turbocharger. The last annual inspection was conducted on May 18, 2009.