Accident Overview
On August 15, 2017, about 1635 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-28-140, registration N2804T, was substantially damaged during a forced landing after takeoff from Cherokee County Airport (CNI) in Canton, Georgia. The flight instructor and student pilot sustained minor injuries. The instructional flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91; visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the local flight.
Flight Sequence
According to the flight instructor, after an uneventful engine run-up, they taxied to the active runway for takeoff. As the takeoff roll commenced, the instructor noted that the airplane felt "sluggish." He asked the student pilot if he had his foot on the brakes, and the student replied "no." The instructor checked the throttle and airspeed and found the throttle full forward but airspeed increasing slowly. Once the airplane reached 75 knots, it lifted off and began to climb. The climb appeared normal for approximately the first 200 feet. Then, the instructor noticed that the airspeed was decreasing while the engine continued running. He took over the flight controls and elected to perform an emergency landing in a wooded area.
Wreckage Examination
Examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed that both wings had separated from the fuselage, and the fuselage was buckled. A post-crash fire ensued within the engine cowling and spread to the cockpit.
Engine Examination
An examination of the engine revealed that the carburetor throttle linkage was striking against the exhaust heat shield. This interference prevented the carburetor throttle linkage from achieving its full movement at full throttle.
Maintenance Records
A review of the maintenance logbooks showed that on July 28, 2017, a Power Flow exhaust system was installed on the engine. The airplane had accumulated about 6 hours of flight time prior to the accident event.