History of Flight
On February 27, 2013, at approximately 1553 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-32-300, registration N1953H, lost engine throttle control while on approach to Raleigh Executive Jetport at Sanford-Lee County Airport (TTA), Sanford, North Carolina. The pilot performed a forced landing to a nearby field. The private pilot was not injured. The airplane, registered to Rekme Aero LLC, was operating under 14 CFR Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The flight originated from Siler City Municipal Airport (5W8), Siler City, North Carolina, about 1543.
According to the pilot, the airplane had 84 gallons of fuel on board prior to departure. Preflight, engine run-up, takeoff, and climb to 3,000 feet were normal. Entering the traffic pattern at TTA, the pilot reduced engine power to idle. When he adjusted the throttle lever, he noted neither resistance nor change in engine rpm. He attempted to maintain altitude and execute a shallow left turn for another approach, but back pressure on the yoke activated the stall warning horn. He then attempted to land in a nearby field. The airplane touched down level, became airborne while crossing a gravel road, touched down again, struck a fence post with the left wing root, and came to rest about 200 yards beyond the fence.
Personnel Information
The 44-year-old pilot held a private pilot certificate for airplane single-engine land and a third-class medical certificate issued February 14, 2012, with no limitations. He reported 401 total flight hours, with 347 hours as pilot in command and 228 hours in the accident airplane make and model.
Aircraft Information
The low-wing, six-seat, single-engine airplane was manufactured in 1977 and equipped with a Lycoming IO-540-K1G5, 300-hp engine. The most recent annual inspection was completed on February 15, 2013, at which time the airframe had 4,014 total flight hours and the engine had 3,610 total hours, including 494 hours since overhaul.
Meteorological Information
The 1555 weather observation at TTA included wind from 230 degrees at 8 knots, variable between 190 and 270 degrees, 10 miles visibility, broken clouds at 100 feet and 4,800 feet above ground level, temperature 15°C, dew point 4°C, and barometric pressure 29.73 inches of mercury.
Airport Information
TTA was a publicly owned airport without an operating control tower. It had one runway, 3/21, which was 6,500 feet long and 100 feet wide.
Wreckage and Impact Information
The airplane came to rest upright on the right main and nose landing gear approximately 200 yards from a gravel road. The left wing rested on the ground and exhibited impact damage on the leading edge extending about 3 feet from the fuselage.
Examination by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed that the throttle cable, attached to the fuel servo, would not operate with throttle movement. Due to damage to surrounding structure, a detailed examination could not be conducted.
During recovery, the pin, washer, and a portion of the cadmium-plated cotter pin associated with the throttle lever clevis were found on the cockpit floor beneath the throttle quadrant. Photographic examination showed one prong of the cotter pin was missing; the remaining portion measured approximately ¾ inch. A photograph of the cotter pin associated with the adjacent propeller lever showed the clevis pin remained in place and was secured with a cotter pin, but the cotter pin exceeded the clevis diameter and its prongs were not seated firmly against the clevis pin.
Additional Information
FAA Advisory Circular (AC) 43.13-1B, Chapter 7, Section 6, provides guidance on securing pins with cotter pins, stating that the cotter pin diameter should be the largest that fits the hole or slots, and that the prong bent over the bolt should be seated firmly against the bolt shank and not exceed bolt diameter. The airplane manufacturer's parts catalog specified the approved cotter pin for the throttle linkage as an AN380-2-1, which has a diameter of 1/16 inch and length of 3/8 inch.