History of Flight
On October 18, 2014, about 1230 mountain standard time, a Piper PA28-151, registration N56873, departed from Sun Valley Airport near Bullhead City, Arizona, for a cross-country personal flight to Henderson, Nevada. During the initial climb, the pilot sensed that the airplane seemed heavy and the engine was not generating full power. When the stall warning sounded at an estimated 500 feet above ground level, she lowered the nose to clear power lines. The airplane subsequently landed in uneven desert terrain, and an engine fire erupted. The pilot and passenger evacuated safely. A witness at the airport reported hearing the engine during takeoff and believed it was not producing full power; he estimated the airplane reached about 50 feet agl before making a steep left turn and disappearing from view.
Aircraft Information
The airplane was a Piper PA28-151, serial number 28-7415021, powered by a Lycoming O-320-E3D engine rated for 150 horsepower. According to logbooks, total airframe time at the most recent annual inspection on April 10, 2014, was 5,407 hours, and engine time since major overhaul was 3,438 hours.
Meteorological Information
An automated weather observation at Laughlin/Bullhead Airport (IFP), located 9 miles north of the accident site, taken five minutes after the accident, reported wind from 350 degrees at 13 knots, visibility 10 miles or more, clear skies, temperature 31°C, dew point 6°C, and an altimeter setting of 29.83 inches of mercury.
Investigation
On October 27, 2014, investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board, Federal Aviation Administration, and Lycoming Engines examined the wreckage at Air Transport in Phoenix, Arizona. The airframe and engine had been partially consumed by fire. The fuel selector valve was in the LEFT position; the gascolator contained clear blue fluid consistent with aviation gasoline and a clean screen.
Engine examination revealed no catastrophic failures. The crankshaft rotated freely, valves moved in proper firing order, and thumb compression was obtained on all cylinders. Spark plugs appeared normal per the Champion Check-A-Plug chart. Both magnetos produced spark. The carburetor showed thermal damage but no anomalies; the bowl contained no fluid. Propeller blades were bent and twisted opposite normal rotation, with leading edge gouges and chordwise striations. No mechanical anomalies were identified in the airframe or engine.
Additional Information
The pilot did not submit the NTSB Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident/Incident Form 6120.1.