AviZone

PIPER PA28   LYCOMING  360 FAMILY            22/08/2015                 Engine failure.            At 2 mins and 15 seconds (2nm north of the airfield and at approx. 1,250 ft) a massive bang was heard coming from the engine, instant power loss and Engine T&P’s went into the red and dropped straight down to no reading. Pilot declared a Mayday emergency (Engine Failure) still on Seething radio frequency (122.60), with the intention of returning to the airfield for an attempted force landing. Seething Air ground radio confirmed that runway 24 could be used and the Fire & Rescue team were on standby at the Alpha hold to follow us down the runway.         At around 1nm to the airfield and attempting to keep high and fast rather than low and slow the aircraft was still at around 800ft so continuous slide slipping and position changes were used, flaps wer...

16/08/2015 Climbing out, I was just levelling off and as I reduced power there was a load bang and a rush of air. Checking around I found the rear seat passenger was pointing at the window. It took a moment to realise it was missing. I even stuck my fingers out through the hole but sure enough it was gone. While the loss of the window did not affect the handling of the aircraft there was a risk of personal injury from the shrapnel. One piece flew forward and bounced off the instrument panel. I think it was fortunate the rear seat passenger was sat on the right where she was unharmed. I reduced speed and after confirming there was no affect on the aircraft handling and the passengers were unharmed we continued and made an uneventful landing. The window was the last remaining original piece of Perspex on the 1967 aircraft.

                      FAA issued Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin (SAIB)  to alert owners, operators, and  maintenance technicians of Piper Aircraft, Inc. (Piper) Models PA-28, PA-32, PA-34, PA-44, and  PA-46 series airplanes of an airworthiness concern, specifically structural deterioration and possible  collapse of the air inlet hose. The air inlet hose may be between the air filter and the fuel injector,  carburetor or carburetor heat box depending on the airplane model. A collapsed hose reduces airflow  to the engine and could result in a rough running engine or a loss of power.  At this time, the airworthiness concern is not an unsafe condition that would warrant an FAA  Airworthiness Directive (AD).  Background                 In November 2013, a Piper Model PA-28-140 airplane impacted terrain shortly after takeoff. The  airp...

Electrical connector in cabin heater power supply  overheated                         (15 February 2012) During the approach, wisps of smoke were seen to  come from the area of the cabin heater selector switch.  The system was isolated, the cabin fire extinguisher  was discharged and the aircraft made an uneventful  landing. The source of the smoke and acrid smell was  an overheated and partially melted electrical connector. History of the flight An instructor was conducting an instrument training  flight with one student flying the aircraft and a  passenger, who was also a student, in a rear seat  observing the flight. The student had been given  clearance for a low approach and go-around. The  aircraft was approximately six miles from Birmingham  Airport, established on the ILS for Runway 33, when  the passenger reported that there were wisps of smoke...