N6FT

On September 14, 2024, about 1405 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-32-260, N6FT, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Baltimore, Maryland. The commercial pilot and two passengers were not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14?Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.

The pilot stated that earlier that day he had flown the airplane on two uneventful flights. The third flight that day, which would be the accident flight, was to fly two passengers around the airport traffic pattern for a planned flight duration of about 10 minutes. After engine start, he taxied to runway 15L and waited about 10 to 15 minutes while in line to depart. After being cleared for takeoff, with the fuel selector positioned to the left main fuel tank, he applied full power and the engine responded. He rotated at 80 miles-per-hour (mph) and reported becoming airborne when the airplane was halfway down the 5,000-ft-long runway. He accelerated to between 110 and 115 mph, but when the airplane was about 200 ft above the runway, the engine lost power completely. He pushed the elevator control forward and touched down on the runway at a fast airspeed. With the throttle full forward, the engine regained power and the airplane climbed off the runway. He then pushed the elevator forward and touched down on grass before the airplane crested a hill then came to rest adjacent to a building on airport property.

An initial inspection of the airplane at the accident site by the Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that the right main fuel tank was breached, but the left was not. No contaminants were noted in the left main fuel tank. The airplane was recovered and retained for further examination of the airframe and engine.