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September 8, 1992 · Piper PA-32RT-300T PA-32RT-30 · N20926

Baker, CA

Overview

Report Status
Probable Cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
September 8, 1992
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 minor injury), 1 uninjured
Location
Baker, CA
Aircraft
Piper PA-32RT-300T PA-32RT-30
Tail Number
N20926
Operator
Reuling-Hardy Nancy
Injuries
Minor
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
LAX92LA377

A Piper 32RT 300T landed hard on a dirt strip after experiencing a total loss of engine power. The pilot heard a loud bang while cruising at 13,500 MSL. Oil from the engine obscured the pilot's vision through the windshield. The pilot secured the engine and selected a dirt strip near an automobile salvage yard as a forced landing area. During the landing, the airplane struck an automobile. Safety Board investigators found a hole in the engine crankcase in the vicinity of the number 1 and number 2 cylinders during the preliminary examination. Disassembly of the engine revealed the numbers 1 and 2 connecting rods were broken and the number 1 connecting rod contained a galled spot on its connecting rod bearing surface. Subsequent examination of the five remaining connecting rods revealed evidence of galling between the connecting rod bearing face and rod bearing. According to the engine manufacturer, galling between the connecting rod bearing face and rod bearing is caused by periods of high loading due to overspeed or excessive manifold pressure. About 15 days or 6 flight hours prior, the turbocharger wastegate was adjusted by maintenance personnel. The pilot indicated that there were no unusual instrument indications before the engine failure.

NTSB Probable Cause

THE UNKNOWN PILOTS IMPROPER USE OF THE THROTTLES WHICH RESULTED IN THE OVERBOOSTING OF THE ENGINE. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL IMPROPER MAINTENANCE IN ADJUSTING THE TURBOCHARGER WASTEGATE AND THE OIL LEAKING FROM THE ENGINE AFTER THE CATASTROPHIC FAILURE WHICH RESTRICTED THE PILOT'S VISUAL OUTLOOK.

Full Narrative

A PIPER 32RT 300T, LANDED HARD ON DIRT STRIP AFTER EXPERIENCING A TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. THE PILOT HEARD A LOUD BANG WHILE CRUISING AT 13,500 MSL. OIL FROM THE ENGINE OBSCURED THE PILOT'S VISION THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD. THE PILOT SECURED THE ENGINE AND SELECTED A DIRT STRIP NEAR AN AUTOMOBILE SALVAGE YARD AS A FORCED LANDING AREA. DURING THE LANDING THE AIRPLANE STRUCK AN AUTOMOBILE. SAFETY BOARD INVESTIGATORS FOUND A HOLE IN THE ENGINE CRANKCASE IN THE VICINITY OF THE NUMBER 1 AND NUMBER 2 CYLINDERS DURING THE PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION. DISASSEMBLY OF THE ENGINE REVEALED THE NUMBERS 1 AND 2 CONNECTING RODS WERE BROKEN AND THE NUMBER 1 CONNECTING ROD CONTAINED A GALLED SPOT ON ITS CONNECTING ROD BEARING SURFACE. SUBSEQUENT EXAMINATION OF THE FIVE REMAINING CONNECTING RODS REVEALED EVIDENCE OF GALLING BETWEEN THE CONNECTING ROD BEARING FACE AND ROD BEARING. ACCORDING TO THE ENGINE MANUFACTURER, GALLING BETWEEN THE CONNECTING ROD BEARING FACE AND ROD BEARING IS CAUSED BY PERIODS OF HIGH LOADING DUE TO OVERSPEED OR EXCESSIVE MANIFOLD PRESSURE. ABOUT 15 DAYS OR 6 FLIGHT HOURS, THE TURBOCHARGER WASTEGATE WAS ADJUSTED BY MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL. THE PILOT INDICATED THAT THERE WERE NO UNUSUAL INSTRUMENT INDICATIONS BEFORE THE ENGINE FAILURE.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time13:10 PDT
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledVFR
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA-32RT-300T PA-32RT-30
Tail NumberN20926
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
OperatorReuling-Hardy Nancy
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · TIO-540-S1AD · Reciprocating · 300
Seats6

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 minor injury), 1 uninjured
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor1
Uninjured1
Total2
Crew 1Age 60 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind300° @ 10 kt
Visibility50 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point39 C
Altimeter29.00 inHg
Observation Time20:52
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data