Summary
On September 09, 2022, a Piper PA32RT (N31981) was involved in an incident near Bulverde, TX. 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 partial loss of engine power due to excessive carbon deposits that resulted in one or more stuck exhaust valves.
On September 9, 2022, about 0750 central daylight time, a Piper PA32RT-300T airplane, N31981, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Bulverde, Texas. The pilot and passenger were not injured. The airplane was operated under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. The pilot reported that during the takeoff from Bulverde Airpark (1TT8), Bulverde, Texas, the airplane did not accelerate as planned. The pilot reported that he was not going to be able to stop on the remaining runway, so he continued the takeoff in order to avoid contacting a fence and vehicles at the end of the runway.
This incident is documented in NTSB report CEN22LA413. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N31981.
Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
The partial loss of engine power due to excessive carbon deposits that resulted in one or more stuck exhaust valves.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Current)
Analysis
On September 9, 2022, about 0750 central daylight time, a Piper PA32RT-300T airplane, N31981, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Bulverde, Texas. The pilot and passenger were not injured. The airplane was operated under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight.
The pilot reported that during the takeoff from Bulverde Airpark (1TT8), Bulverde, Texas, the airplane did not accelerate as planned. The pilot reported that he was not going to be able to stop on the remaining runway, so he continued the takeoff in order to avoid contacting a fence and vehicles at the end of the runway. The airplane cleared powerlines, trees, and a school at the end of the runway, but was nearing a stall, so the pilot performed a forced landing to a field. During the landing the airplane collided with a tree, resulting in substantial damage to the right wing and fuselage.
Postaccident examination of the engine found excessive carbon deposits around the No. 4 cylinder exhaust valve. A large amount of carbon build up was found on the rocker arm, rocker shaft, and valve spring. The rotator cap also had carbon deposits and exhibited a groove wear pattern consistent with a lack of cap rotation. The exhaust valve guide had excessive wobble and movement within the guide. The No. 5 exhaust valve also displayed signatures of carbon buildup but not to the same extent as the No. 4.
No other anomalies were detected with the engine or airframe.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# CEN22LA413