Accident Overview
On June 29, 2022, at about 1145 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-32RT-300, registration N4321M, was substantially damaged in an accident near Wilmington, North Carolina. The private pilot sustained minor injuries, and the passenger was not injured. The flight was conducted as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.
Incident Details
The pilot reported that he and a neighbor were taking the airplane for a local pleasure flight. After performing a preflight inspection and a normal taxi and engine run-up, the pilot began the takeoff. Shortly after beginning the initial climb, within about 3 to 5 seconds, the engine hesitated and stopped developing normal takeoff power. The pilot aborted the takeoff and landed back on the runway he had departed from, with about 500 ft of the 3,000-ft runway remaining. The runway was wet. The pilot attempted to stop before exiting the runway but was unsuccessful. The airplane continued through grass and came to rest in a retention pond.
Post-Accident Examination
An FAA inspector examined the wreckage and found the airplane in about 5 ft of water in a nose-low attitude. The right wing had been substantially damaged. The left wing fuel tank contained fuel with the appearance and smell of 100LL aviation fuel. The pilot reported about 60 gallons of fuel aboard before takeoff.
The engine was examined after recovery. Water drained from the crankcase when the oil sump suction screen was removed. The crankshaft could not be rotated by hand. Borescope inspection of the cylinders revealed water and corrosion debris, and heavy corrosion on the cylinder walls. The Nos. 1, 3, and 5 cylinders were removed to access the crankcase interior; continuity of the crankshaft to the rear accessory drive gears and valvetrain was confirmed, and no damage was observed to the crankshaft, camshaft, or camshaft followers.
The fuel injector servo remained attached, with throttle and mixture control cables intact. Liquid with an odor consistent with aviation gasoline drained from the fuel servo, fuel hoses, and fuel flow divider. The servo fuel regulator section showed no damage; the fuel inlet screen was debris-free. The fuel flow divider was secure, and a few drops of water were drained; no internal damage was noted. Fuel injector nozzles were secure and unobstructed. The engine-driven fuel pump produced air at the outlet port when operated by hand, with no internal damage.
The dual magneto was removed; when rotated with an electric drill, spark was produced from all left magneto ignition towers but none from the right. Partial disassembly revealed water and corrosion on internal components, including contact points. Spark plug electrodes had dark gray coloration and normal wear; water and corrosion were found in the electrode wells. The ignition harness showed no damage. The vacuum pump was undamaged and produced air when rotated by hand. The oil suction screen showed wet, white corrosion products but no metallic debris; the oil filter media was debris-free.
The propeller remained attached to the crankshaft flange; the spinner tip was impact damaged. One blade was undamaged, one bent aft about 5° at mid-span, and one bent aft about 15° at mid-span. The propeller governor was undamaged, and its cable remained attached; the governor drive produced oil at the outlet port when rotated by hand, and the oil screen was debris-free. No evidence of any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures of the engine was identified during the examination.
Maintenance Records
A review of maintenance records showed that the airplane’s last annual inspection was completed on May 19, 2022. During that inspection, the engine, airframe, and propeller were found to be in an airworthy condition.