Piper PA-28-161 Cadet, G-TLET, 21 July 2012
Piper PA-28-161 Cadet, G-TLET
Summary:
At about 200 ft aal after takeoff the engine suffered a sudden loss of power and the pilot initiated a forced landing. The aircraft touched down in a field at the end of the runway but then it hit a fence, a hedge and a large mound, which caused significant damage to the aircraft. The loss of power was caused by failure of a clamp between the turbocharger compressor outlet and the turbo pipe assembly. This clamp had failed due to a fatigue crack that had initiated at multiple sites on the inner diameter and then propagated through the thickness of the sidewall. Following the accident the maintenance organisation discovered another cracked clamp, which had not yet failed, on another aircraft fitted with the same engine type. Three Safety Recommendations are made.
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