Colorado Aviation Accidents & Incidents

On July 6, 2003, at 1052 mountain daylight time, a Piper PA-46-310P, N4386G, was substantially damaged when it ran off the side of the runway during takeoff at Centennial Airport, Englewood, Colorado. The private pilot and his two passengers were not injured. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and an instrument flight plan had been filed for the cross-country flight being operated under Title 14 CFR Part 91. The flight was originating at the time of the accident.

The pilot was cleared for takeoff on runway 17L and was instructed to maintain runway heading. In his accident report, the pilot said that after lifting off, he aborted the takeoff "due to poor airplane performance" and "landed very hard." The left main tire blew out and the airplane departed the left side of the runway and struck a taxiway sign. The left wing was bent, the tire was blown out, and the landing gear door was damaged.

According to a report submitted by Straight Flight, a Centennial Airport repair facility, the engine was functionally tested and the manifold pressure was found to be "3 [inches] low at full takeoff power," and the engine was producing "approximately 95-97 [per cent] full power at the takeoff setting." An adjustment to the wastegate actuator raised the manifold pressure to the correct setting. the pilot's improper flare which resulted in a hard landing. Contributing factors were the out-of-calibration waste gate actuator, a blown tire, and the airport sign.