Background
On March 19, 2011, about 1410 central daylight time, a Piper PA-28-140, registration N7330J, was involved in an accident during a forced landing after takeoff from Ocean Springs Airport (5R2), Ocean Springs, Mississippi. The pilot, an airline transport pilot, and two passengers sustained minor injuries, while a third passenger was seriously injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight conducted under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.
Accident Sequence
Earlier that day, the pilot flew the airplane from Trent Lott International Airport (PQL) in Pascagoula, Mississippi, to Ocean Springs Airport to pick up three passengers. According to air traffic control data, the airplane departed PQL at 1254. The pilot reported consuming "about an hour's worth of fuel" during the 12-mile flight. After a brief departure from the airport, he returned around 1350 to conduct the flight with passengers.
The pilot boarded the passengers and loaded luggage—he estimated 40 pounds, while passengers estimated between 80 and 100 pounds. Engine start, run-up, magneto check, taxi, and takeoff roll proceeded without anomalies. However, at 80 to 100 feet above the runway, the airplane "would not climb." The pilot perceived a loss of engine power and noted engine RPM decayed from 2,300 to about 2,000 RPM. He checked the engine controls and responded to continuous stall warnings by lowering the nose, resulting in a steady loss of altitude. He selected a narrow street in a residential area, about half a mile from the airport, for the forced landing.
Personnel Information
The pilot held an airline transport pilot certificate with ratings for airplane single-engine and multiengine. He reported approximately 4,400 total flight hours, with 25 hours in the accident make and model.
Aircraft Information
The airplane was manufactured in 1968 and had accrued 5,946 total aircraft hours as of its most recent annual inspection on January 27, 2011. The manufacturer's maximum allowable gross weight was 2,150 pounds. Using occupants, 33 gallons of fuel, and 40 pounds of baggage, the estimated gross weight at takeoff was 2,248 pounds.
Meteorological Information
At 1355, the weather reported at Biloxi, Mississippi, included clear skies, winds from 210 degrees at 10 knots, temperature 25°C, dewpoint 20°C, and an altimeter setting of 30.22 inches of mercury.
Wreckage and Impact Information
An FAA aviation safety inspector examined the airplane at the accident site on March 19, 2011. There was fuel spillage, and the fire department drained approximately 50 gallons of remaining fuel. Photographs showed the right wing separated by impact, the left wing outboard of the flap separated, upward crushing along the right side of the underside of the engine compartment and cockpit, and one propeller blade bent aft.
The wreckage was recovered to an automotive repair facility. On April 27, 2011, a wreckage examination and engine run were conducted under FAA supervision. The fuselage was lifted by a forklift. Impact damage to the engine mount and several bends in the mount tubing were noted, but no breaks. The exhaust system was restricted due to impact damage but no breaks. An auxiliary fuel source was plumbed into the fuel system at the electric-driven fuel pump, and a substitute propeller was installed.
The engine started immediately and ran continuously, requiring a few minutes for spark plugs to clear due to oil accumulation from storage. A magneto check revealed the left magneto was not operational at the time of the test. The engine could not be accelerated above 2,100 rpm due to the condition of the engine mount.