Accident Overview
On July 3, 2018, at approximately 12:57 central daylight time, a Piper PA-46-350P airplane, registration N689KC, sustained substantial damage after a landing accident near Springhill, Louisiana. The pilot and passengers were not injured. The flight was conducted under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight.
According to the pilot, during landing the airplane bounced on the runway. He applied engine power for a go-around, but the engine failed to produce full power, causing the airplane to slow. The pilot retracted the landing gear and flaps, after which the airplane impacted the runway.
Witness and Initial Examination
A witness observed the airplane during its landing attempt on runway at Springhill Airport. The airplane touched down about one-third of the way down the 4,202-foot-long runway. After touchdown, it bounced twice, entering a nose-high attitude on the second bounce. The right wing then dropped, and the airplane struck terrain.
An Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector responded and reported substantial damage to the fuselage. A visual examination of the airplane found no preimpact anomalies.
Flight Data Recording
Data retrieved from the G1000 system captured the accident flight. At 12:39, the airplane descended. Below 1,000 feet altitude, engine speed was 2,400 rpm. At 12:56:40, engine speed began decreasing, reaching 1,225 rpm at 12:56:57, while the airplane pitched up. It crossed the runway threshold at 12:56:47 at about 80 knots airspeed. At 12:56:57, engine speed increased to over 2,400 rpm within two seconds and remained there. At that point, pitch was 11° nose-up and airspeed was 59 knots. Airspeed increased about three seconds later. At 12:57:13, pitch was 17° nose-up and airspeed was 70 knots. The airplane was about 220 feet in altitude before a roll to the right began. The data indicated ground collision at 12:57:19.
Operational Context
According to the airplane's Pilot Operating Handbook, minimum landing approach and go-around speed is 80 knots. Stall speed in landing configuration is 60 knots; with landing gear and flaps retracted, stall speed is 69 knots. The go-around procedure specifies: after applying full rich mixture, propeller rpm, and throttle and attaining 80 knots, retract the landing gear, then retract flaps incrementally.
Note: The accident was initially reported with registration N479CD, but during investigation it was determined the registration had changed to N689KC about one year prior to the accident.