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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.

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June 10, 1990 · Piper PA-32-300 · N3AH

Havasu Landing, CA

Overview

Report Status
Probable Cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
June 10, 1990
Injury Outcomes
6 injuries (3 fatalities, 3 serious injuries)
Location
Havasu Landing, CA
Aircraft
Piper PA-32-300
Tail Number
N3AH
Operator
Darrel L Gillman
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
LAX90FA213

WHILE CLIMBING ABT 7 MIN AFTER TAKEOFF, THE PLT NOTED A SIGNIFICANT DROP IN OIL PRESSURE. HE THEN HEARD A NOISE FM THE ENG & DIVERTED BACK TOWARD THE ARPT. HOWEVER, THE ENG BEGAN RUNNING ROUGH, THEN FAILED. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT IMPACTED TRRN DURING AN EMERG LNDG IN A DRY RIVER WASH & BEGAN BURNING. ONE OCCUPANT WAS FATALLY INJURED DURING THE ACDNT. THE PLT (WITH THERMAL INJURIES) & 1 PSGR SUCCUMBED TO INJURIES A DAY LATER. AN EXAM REVEALED EVIDENCE OF A LOSS OF OIL & OIL EXHAUSTION. THERE WAS EVIDENCE THAT A B-NUT FITTING (ON AN OIL LINE FM THE ENG TO THE RGT OIL COOLER) HAD BACKED OFF THE NIPPLE FITTING ON THE ENG. A HVY COATING OF OIL WAS FND ON THE BELLY OF THE ACFT. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE PILOT PERFORMED HIS OWN OIL AND OIL FILTER CHANGES. HE HAD CHANGED THE OIL & FILTER 2 DAYS BEFORE THE ACDNT. THE SUBJECT OIL SUPPLY LINE WAS ONE THAT WAS TYPICALLY REMOVED DURING OIL CHANGES TO FACILITATE REMOVAL OF THE OIL FILTER AND TO DRAIN THE OIL COOLER.

NTSB Probable Cause

FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO PROPERLY SECURE AN OIL SUPPLY LINE B-NUT FITTING AFTER AN OIL CHANGE, WHICH ALLOWED THE OIL LINE TO BECOME DISCONNECTED AND LED TO OIL EXHAUSTION AND SUBSEQUENT ENGINE FAILURE. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS: UNSUITABLE TERRAIN IN THE EMERGENCY LANDING AREA.

Full Narrative

WHILE CLIMBING ABT 7 MIN AFTER TAKEOFF, THE PLT NOTED A SIGNIFICANT DROP IN OIL PRESSURE. HE THEN HEARD A NOISE FM THE ENG & DIVERTED BACK TOWARD THE ARPT. HOWEVER, THE ENG BEGAN RUNNING ROUGH, THEN FAILED. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT IMPACTED TRRN DURING AN EMERG LNDG IN A DRY RIVER WASH & BEGAN BURNING. ONE OCCUPANT WAS FATALLY INJURED DURING THE ACDNT. THE PLT (WITH THERMAL INJURIES) & 1 PSGR SUCCUMBED TO INJURIES A DAY LATER. AN EXAM REVEALED EVIDENCE OF A LOSS OF OIL & OIL EXHAUSTION. THERE WAS EVIDENCE THAT A B-NUT FITTING (ON AN OIL LINE FM THE ENG TO THE RGT OIL COOLER) HAD BACKED OFF THE NIPPLE FITTING ON THE ENG. A HVY COATING OF OIL WAS FND ON THE BELLY OF THE ACFT. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE PILOT PERFORMED HIS OWN OIL AND OIL FILTER CHANGES. HE HAD CHANGED THE OIL & FILTER 2 DAYS BEFORE THE ACDNT. THE SUBJECT OIL SUPPLY LINE WAS ONE THAT WAS TYPICALLY REMOVED DURING OIL CHANGES TO FACILITATE REMOVAL OF THE OIL FILTER AND TO DRAIN THE OIL COOLER.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time16:30 PDT
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Runway Length0
Runway Width0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireGrd
Aircraft ExplosionGrd

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA-32-300
Tail NumberN3AH
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
OperatorDarrel L Gillman
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · IO-540-K1A5 · Reciprocating · 300
Seats6

People & Injuries

Injury Summary6 injuries (3 fatalities, 3 serious injuries)
Fatal3
Serious3
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total6
Crew 1Age 48 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind180° @ 13 kt, gusting 24 kt
Visibility45 sm
CeilingBroken clouds 25000 ft
Temperature / Dew Point57
Altimeter29.00 inHg
Observation Time22:57
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data