Piper PA32 301FT N106C accident near Winona, Mississippi

Probable cause

A loss of directional control during takeoff for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examination of the airplane revealed no anomalies.

NTSB analysis

The pilot reported that he had maintenance conducted on the airplane's avionics, which included the replacement of the primary flight display (PFD). After the maintenance was completed, the pilot prepared to return to his home airport. A preflight inspection revealed no anomalies, and the steering system operated normally during taxi. During the takeoff roll, the pilot observed a red "X" indication over the airspeed indicator on the PFD. He "immediately started an emergency shutdown" of the airplane, during which the airplane began to drift left. He applied right rudder with no effect. The airplane subsequently departed the left side of the runway, continued across a grassy area, and impacted the airport perimeter fence, which resulted in substantial damage to the right wing and engine firewall.

Postaccident examination of the nose landing gear steering system, rudder controls, and brake system revealed no anomalies, and no evidence of flight control binding or chafing was found. Maintenance facility personnel removed the newly replaced PFD before it could be examined; therefore, it could not be determined if its installation interfered with the airplane's flight control system. According to the Pilot's Operating Handbook, the emergency procedure for a loss of air data on the PFD was to maintain airspeed and altitude by referring to the standby airspeed and altimeter.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for ERA15LA019 for the full record.