Premium research interface

The modern interface for aviation safety intelligence.

Search investigations, review source evidence, monitor watched reports, and trace long-term patterns from one calm, data-first workspace.

63k+
Reports indexed
1940-2026
Coverage
Recent
Last data refresh
Featured Report

Loading…

Loading featured report…

Loading…
Open Report

Safety trends by operating rule

Track fatal and non-fatal accident patterns across Part 91, Part 135, and Part 121 operations.

Loading trend charts…

Browse the aviation graph

Move quickly by aircraft, airport, operator, and time with indexes built for research, not wandering.

Last Data Update

By Decade

By Month

Aircraft Manufacturer

More manufacturers

Airports

More airports

Operators

More operators

About

Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

The goal is practical safety education: make it faster to find relevant investigations, compare similar events, review factual records, and understand the evidence behind probable-cause and preliminary reports.

The investigative work and source records belong to the National Transportation Safety Board and the published investigation record. This site is not affiliated with or endorsed by the NTSB.

FAQs

NTSB Report

June 1, 1994 · Piper PA-28R-201T PA-28R-201 · N36025

Trinity Center, CA

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
June 1, 1994
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 minor injury), 1 uninjured
Location
Trinity Center, CA
Aircraft
Piper PA-28R-201T PA-28R-201
Tail Number
N36025
Operator
Rainbow Air
Injuries
Minor
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
LAX94LA233

The pilot said that he heard a grinding noise in the engine followed by a prop overspeed. Then the engine suddenly lost all power. ARTCC provided radar vectors to nearest airport and the pilot set up for a dead stick approach; however, he was unable to make the runway. The aircraft touched down gear up in a ditch, bounced out and onto parking lot, then crashed into a parked aircraft. Disassembly of the engine revealed fretting on the parting surfaces of the number 1 main bearing saddle. The crankshaft was found fatigue fractured across the number 1 crankpin at the interface with the number 2 long cheek. One rod end cap nut was found without a cotter pin installed. The second rod end cap nut was found with a shorter than normal cotter pin installed. The number 1 connecting rod bearing was found partially swaged out of the rod, with fretting observed on the bearing surfaces. The side faces of connecting rod number 1 were scored. The engine records revealed that cylinders number 1 and 4 were replaced on May 9, 1994, 29 hours prior to the accident.

NTSB Probable Cause

the fatigue fracture of the crankshaft due to improper maintenance installation of the number 1 cylinder and the inadequate torquing of the case through bolts at that location.

Full Narrative

On June 1, 1994, at 0640 Pacific daylight time, a Piper PA-28R- 201T, N36025, collided with ground obstructions while attempting a forced landing at the Trinity Center, California, airport. The forced landing was precipitated by a total loss of engine power while in cruise flight. The aircraft was operated by Rainbow Air of Long Beach, California, and was rented by the pilot for a personal cross-country flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and an IFR flight plan was filed for the operation. The aircraft incurred substantial damage. The certificated private pilot incurred minor injuries and the passenger was not injured. The flight originated at the Medford, Oregon, airport on the morning of the accident at 0550 as an IFR cross-country flight to Long Beach, California. The pilot said in his statement that while en route at 11,000 feet, he heard a "grinding noise" in the engine followed by a propeller overspeed. A few seconds later, the engine suddenly lost all power. The pilot said he informed Oakland ARTCC (ZOA) of his problem within 30 seconds of the event and they provided vector to nearest airport, which was Trinity Center. The pilot said he set up for a dead stick approach to the airport; however, he was unable to make the runway. The aircraft touched down gear-up in a ditch, bounced out and onto the parking lot, then crashed into a parked aircraft. The engine was removed from the airframe for a detailed examination, which was conducted on June 9, 1994, at Hillside Aviation in Redding, California. The examination was conducted by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) airworthiness inspector from the Sacramento, California, Flight Standards District Office, with assistance provided by a technical representative from Teledyne Continental Motors. The reports from both the FAA inspector and the Teledyne Continental Motors representative are attached as an exhibit to this report. Disassembly of the engine revealed fretting on the parting surfaces of the number 1 main bearing saddle. The crankshaft was found fractured across the number 1 crankpin at the interface with the number 2 long cheek. The number 1 connecting rod remained on the number 1 crankpin. One rod end cap nut was found without a cotter pin installed in the castlenated nut. The second rod end cap nut was found with a shorter than normal cotter pin installed. The number 1 connecting rod bearing was found partially swaged out of the rod big end, with fretting observed on the bearing surfaces. The side faces of connecting rod number 1 were scored. The fractured crankshaft was sent to the FAA Manufacturing Satellite Inspection Office in Mobile, Alabama, for analysis by the Teledyne Continental materials laboratory under FAA supervision. The metallurgical analysis report completed by Teledyne Continental is attached as an exhibit to this report. In pertinent part, the materials laboratory found that the crankshaft fractured at the number 1 crankpin due to a sub- surface initiated fatigue crack. The engine maintenance records were examined in detail. The Continental TSIO-360-FB1 engine, serial No. 281066-R was remanufactured by the Continental factory on June 24, 1991, and installed in the accident aircraft on July 4, 1991. At the time of the accident, the engine had accrued 1,015 operating hours since remanufacture. Engine cylinders number 1 and 4 were replaced on May 9, 1994, 29 hours prior to the accident.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time06:40 PDT
Nearest AirportTrinity Center (0nm)
Runway32
Runway Length3200 ft
Runway Width50 ft
Flight Plan FiledIFR
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA-28R-201T PA-28R-201
Tail NumberN36025
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorRainbow Air
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · TSIO-360-FB1 · Reciprocating · 200
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 minor injury), 1 uninjured
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor1
Uninjured1
Total2
Crew 1Age 31 · First Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDawn
WindCalm
Visibility30 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point68 F / 0 C
Altimeter29.00 inHg
Weather SourcePILO

Appendix: Source Data