History of Flight
On July 2, 2014, at about 0810 central daylight time, a Piper PA-30 airplane, registration N7762Y, impacted terrain shortly after takeoff from Boone County Airport (KHRO) in Harrison, Arkansas. The pilot, the sole occupant, was seriously injured. The airplane was destroyed. The flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The flight was originating at the time of the accident, en route to an unknown refueling stop, with a final destination of Salem, Oregon.
An airport security camera showed the pilot entering the airplane, starting the engines, and taxiing for takeoff. No preflight inspection was recorded. About two minutes later, the airplane took off. The accident was not captured. Witnesses reported that the airplane lifted off runway 36 before reaching the 1,000-foot runway marker, immediately entered a gradual left turn at about 400 feet, and the bank angle increased to approximately 90° before the airplane dropped off on its right wing and disappeared from view. The impact point was about 1,100 feet west of the runway.
Personnel Information
According to FAA documents, the 66-year-old pilot held an Airline Transport Pilot certificate with multiengine land and commercial single-engine land and sea ratings, along with a Flight Instructor certificate with a single-engine rating. His second-class medical certificate, dated June 25, 2014, required corrective lenses for near and distant vision. He estimated his total flight time at 11,500 hours. His logbook was never found. He also held a Mechanic certificate with Airframe and Powerplant ratings but did not have an Inspector Authorization.
Aircraft Information
The Piper PA-30, serial number 30-849, was manufactured in 1965. It was powered by two Lycoming IO-320-B1A engines, each rated at 160 horsepower, driving Hartzell two-blade constant-speed full-feathering propellers. A single maintenance page recovered from the wreckage indicated both engines received 100-hour inspections on July 1, 2014, at 3,328.11 and 3,328.42 hours, and the airframe received an annual inspection the same day at 3,328.11 hours.
Meteorological Information
The KHRO ASOS reported at 0753: wind 320° at 6 knots, visibility 10 statute miles, clear sky, temperature 21°C, dew point 18°C, altimeter 30.06 inHg.
Aerodrome Information
Boone County Airport is located 3 miles northwest of Harrison, Arkansas, at elevation 1,365 feet msl. It has one runway, 18-36, 6,161 feet long and 150 feet wide, asphalt.
Wreckage and Impact Information
The wreckage was found about 1,100 feet west of the airport near the perimeter fence. A 20-foot ground scar extended to the right wing, with the separated right wing tip at the start. The fuselage was split into two sections; the forward section aligned on a magnetic heading of 320°, the aft section on 020°. The cabin roof had been peeled back by first responders. The left horizontal stabilizer and elevator were bent up; the right wing was severed near midpoint.
Both propellers remained attached. The left propeller showed blade A bent aft 30° and blade B straight, indicating little or no rotation at impact. The right propeller had blade A twisted and bent aft 80°, blade B twisted and bent forward, with 90° striations on cambered surfaces, consistent with high rpm at impact.
Cockpit examination revealed throttles, propeller, and mixture controls full forward (takeoff setting), landing gear down, left fuel selector on left main, right fuel selector between right main and right auxiliary, both boost pumps off. The flap jackscrew showed 22 threads, corresponding to 16° flaps, sometimes used for takeoff.
Medical and Pathological Information
The pilot's son reported that his father sustained a severe head injury, numerous fractures, and internal organ damage.
Tests and Research
Both engines were disassembled and examined. No anomalies were found with the right engine. The left engine contained water in the fuel flow divider, fuel injectors, engine-driven fuel pump, and selector valve fuel bowl. A fuel sample from the servicing fuel truck contained no water or contaminants.
Additional Information
FAA records indicated the airplane was first registered to the pilot in April 1992. It was later seized by the federal government. The FAA sent letters in November 2011 and February 2012 requiring re-registration, which was not done. In March 2011, the airplane was purchased at auction by another individual; no logbooks accompanied it. On July 8, 2011, registration as N7762Y, LLC was applied for. The new owner kept the airplane in his hangar and never flew it. On June 1, 2014, the accident pilot bought back the airplane and submitted a registration application under his name.
On July 1, 2014, the pilot flew the airplane to KHRO. He enlisted a local pilot, considered an expert on the Piper PA-30 Twin Comanche, to fly with him. This pilot said the accident pilot flew the airplane well and cautioned him to sump the fuel tanks and open fuel drains before each flight because the fuel caps were susceptible to water ingress.
A paper copy of a Special Airworthiness Certificate was found in the wreckage. According to FAA inspectors, the certificate was issued by a non-existent FAA office and signed by a non-existent inspector.
Maintenance logbooks were not in the airplane; only a single page bearing entries for 100-hour engine inspections and an annual inspection dated July 1, 2014, signed by the pilot (who was an A&P mechanic). FAA inspectors noted that an annual inspection can only be signed off by an IA.
The fixed base operator reported that neither he nor his employees observed the pilot working on the airplane while it was parked on the ramp, and the security camera did not capture such activity.