N5706D – PIPER PA-22-150 – 2011-01-06 NTSB Accident Report

On January 06, 2011, a Piper PA-22-150 (N5706D) was involved in an incident near Thomaston, GA. All 2 people aboard were uninjured. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.

The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this incident to be: The mechanic's failure to install a cotter retaining pin in the throttle arm retaining nut resulting in excessive throttle play and loss of engine power control.

According to the pilot, the airplane had returned to service after being restored by a licensed airframe and powerplant mechanic with inspection authorization. The pilot performed several takeoffs and landings prior to the accident flight, and the airplane seemed normal. The pilot subsequently took off again and flew to another airport where he completed a simulated instrument approach to about 50 feet above the runway. He then commenced a go around and was over the departure end of the runway, about 300 feet above the ground, when the engine had a partial power loss. The pilot maneuvered the airplane to a forced landing in a hay field, and during the landing roll, the horizontal stabilizer struck a hay bale resulting in substantial damage to the empennage.

This incident is documented in NTSB report ERA11CA108. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N5706D.