N8446B

On June 23, 2023, about 1458 central daylight time, a Piper PA-28RT-201T airplane, N8446B, sustained substantial damage when it was involved in an accident near Baytown, Texas. The pilot sustained minor injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.

According to the pilot, he planned to locally practice some instrument flight maneuvers in preparation for an upcoming instrument flight rules check ride. After about 30 minutes of flight time, while 5 to 7 miles east of the airport, the engine began to run rough. The pilot leaned the fuel mixture and the engine returned to a normal operating condition. A few minutes later the engine began to run rough again. The pilot enriched the fuel mixture, turned on the auxiliary fuel pump to the low position, and the engine returned to a normal operating condition. The pilot returned to the airport, entered a left downwind, and elected to fly a normal traffic pattern. When the airplane was on the final leg of the traffic pattern and about about 1/2 to 1 mile from the airport, the engine lost total power. The pilot was unable to make the airport and executed a forced landing to an adjacent field. During the forced landing, the landing gear collapsed and the airplane came to rest upright. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings and the fuselage (see Figure 1). The pilot estimated the airplane contained about 50 gallons of fuel before takeoff.

Figure 1. Accident airplane (Source: Pilot/owner of the airplane)

A postaccident examination of the airframe and engine revealed an unspecified amount of usable fuel in both wing fuel tanks and no contamination. Fuel was present in the engine fuel lines forward of the firewall, engine fuel pump, throttle body, and fuel manifold valve. The magnetos were manually rotated and produced spark at each spark plug. Mechanical continuity was confirmed throughout the engine and accessories when the propeller was manually rotated. The engine turbocharger compressor and turbine wheels were free to rotate. Due to impact damage to the underside of the engine and engine crankshaft, the engine could not be functionally tested.