History of Flight
On June 30, 2017, about 1330 Hawaii-Aleutian standard time, a Piper PA-28-140 airplane, registration N4244T, experienced a loss of engine power shortly after takeoff from Daniel K Inouye International Airport (HNL) in Honolulu, Hawaii. The airplane subsequently collided with the ground under a highway overpass and caught fire. The private pilot, a commercial pilot rated passenger, and a rear seat passenger were seriously injured. The airplane was substantially damaged. The flight was conducted under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a local personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The airplane had departed HNL at 1320.
The pilot reported that a preflight inspection was completed and that at least 20 gallons of fuel were on board. After starting the engine and taxiing to an open area for a run-up, the airplane took off from runway 4 left. At about 300 ft above ground level, the pilot noticed a loss of engine power. He initiated an emergency landing to a riverbed; the airplane came to rest under a highway overpass and caught fire.
A rear seat passenger reported to a Federal Aviation Administration inspector that the right seat pilot took control of the airplane just prior to the collision and cut off the mixture and power just before ground impact.
The owner of the airplane stated that the airplane had been flown daily with no reported operational issues. Fuel tanks were typically filled to the tabs (20 gallons per tank). The airplane would be flown with the fuel selector positioned to one tank for one flight, then switched to the other tank for the next flight. Prior to the accident flight, the owner had instructed the pilots to switch fuel tanks before takeoff, as they were accustomed to flying Cessna airplanes that operated with the fuel selector in the BOTH position.
Personnel Information
The left seat pilot, aged 20, held a private pilot certificate with an airplane single-engine land rating and a third-class medical certificate issued February 3, 2017, with no waivers or limitations. He had approximately 68 total flight hours, including 28 hours in the previous 90 days and 8 hours in the previous 30 days. He had logged 5 hours in the accident make and model.
The right seat pilot, aged 28, held a commercial pilot certificate with ratings in airplane single-engine land and instrument airplane, and a first-class medical certificate issued October 4, 2015, with no waivers or limitations. He had approximately 775 total flight hours.
Aircraft Information
The 4-seat, low-wing, fixed-gear airplane, serial number 28-7225103, was manufactured in 1971. It was powered by a 140-horsepower Lycoming O-320 series engine. The owner reported that the maintenance logbooks for both the airframe and engine were inside the airplane at the time of the accident and were destroyed in the post-crash fire. No total times or maintenance inspection documentation were obtained.
Wreckage and Impact Information
The airplane came to rest under an overpass about 1.5 miles north of the departure end of runway 4 left, on dirt and loose rocks. The first of three ground impact points was about 55 ft south of the main wreckage. The main wreckage was facing south and resting on its belly. The landing gear had separated and was in front of the engine, which remained partially attached at the firewall. The inboard section of the right wing remained partially attached at the fuselage, while the outboard wingtip section was separated and located about 13 ft from the wreckage. The left wing remained attached but was deformed at mid-section. The empennage remained in place. All flight control surfaces were accounted for. The aft end of the engine and cabin area, back to the baggage compartment, was consumed by the post-impact fire.
Postaccident engine examination revealed fire damage primarily to the rear engine compartment. Cockpit controls were destroyed and could not be moved or identified. Visual examination of the engine showed no evidence of a catastrophic failure. Top and bottom spark plugs were removed and exhibited normal operating signatures. The magnetos remained in place but were destroyed by heat and could not be tested. Valve covers were removed, and the crankshaft was turned by hand; thumb compression was established in each cylinder. Accessory gear and valve train continuity was confirmed. The oil filter/screen and carburetor were destroyed by fire. The fuel selector valve was burned and melted, and its position could not be verified.