Piper PA-32-300 accident near Helena, AL
On July 31, 2014, a Piper PA-32-300 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Helena, AL. 4 people were seriously injured. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- July 31, 2014
- Place
- Helena, AL
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32-300 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 0 fatal, 4 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 33.313°N, 86.926°W
- NTSB ID
- 20140731X71003
Official records · ERA14LA369
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
On July 31, 2014, about 1352 central daylight time, a Piper PA-32-300, N9103K, operated by a private individual, was destroyed during a forced landing, following a total loss of engine power during cruise flight near Helena, Alabama. The private pilot and three passengers were seriously injured. The personal flight was conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the planned flight to Dickson Municipal Airport (M02), Dickson, Tennessee. The flight originated from Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport (ECP), Panama City, Florida, about 1142. The pilot reported that the airplane was completely fueled prior to departure. The departure was uneventful and the airplane was cruising at 2,500 feet mean sea level. About 2 hours into the flight, the pilot noted that the engine power did not seem correct, despite all the gauges indicating normal. He elected to divert to Bessemer Airport (EKY), Bessemer, Alabama; however, the engine began to lose power at that point and then lost all power as the airplane was descending toward EKY. The propeller continued to windmill as the pilot glided the airplane toward EKY. The pilot also switched fuel tanks and activated the electric fuel pump in effort to restore engine power, but was unsuccessful. The airplane impacted trees about 1 mile south of EKY. During the impact with trees, the airplane rolled inverted and then impacted the ground. All four occupants were able to egress before the airplane was consumed by a postcrash fire. A
Probable cause
A total loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined due to postcrash fire damage.
More accidents in AL
- Beech C99, Jul 10, 1991
- Cessna 421A, Jun 22, 1983
- Cessna 421C, Jul 9, 2011
- Piper PA 31, Aug 14, 2016
- Beech 95-B55B, Dec 5, 1992
Browse: Alabama · Piper aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
