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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

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NTSB Report

March 12, 1988 · Piper PA-32R-300 · N8727E

Rock Hill, SC

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
March 12, 1988
Injury Outcomes
2 injuries (2 serious injuries)
Location
Rock Hill, SC
Aircraft
Piper PA-32R-300
Tail Number
N8727E
Operator
Card Wings Flight Service
Injuries
Serious
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
ATL88FA110

The pilot and a certificated pilot/passenger departed the Rock Hill Airport for a local maintenance test flight following an engine overhaul and installation. About 10 minutes into the flight, the engine oil pressure dropped to zero and a complete loss of power followed. The pilot radioed the information to the departure airport and attempted a forced landing in a large pasture with fences. The first touchdown was about 1,746 feet past a tree line at the edge of the field. The aircraft collided with an earth mound 961 feet past the first touchdown point, rolled inverted, and collided with the terrain 300 feet past the earth mound. The total distance between the tree line at the edge of the fields and the stopping point was about 3,091 feet. The latter portion of the path was more steeply downslope than the first 2,150 feet. Post-accident examination revealed an oil line which showed evidence of not having been properly connected.

Full Narrative

THE PLT AND A CERTIFICATED PILOT/PAX DEPARTED THE ROCK HILL APT FOR A LOCAL MAINT TEST FLT FOLLOWING AN ENGINE OVERHAUL AND INSTALLATION. ABOUT 10 MINUTES INTO THE FLT, THE ENGINE OIL PRESSURE DROPPED TO ZERO AND A COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER FOLLOWED. THE PLT RADIOED THE INFORMATION TO THE DEPARTURE ARPT AND ATTEMPTED A FORCED LANDING IN A LARGE PASTURE WITH FENCES. THE FIRST TOUCHDOWN WAS ABOUT 1746 FT PAST A TREE LINE AT THE EDGE OF THE FIELD. THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH AN EARTH MOUND 961 FT PAST THE FIRST TOUCHDOWN POINT, ROLLED INVERTED AND COLLIDED WITH THE TERRAIN 300 FT PAST THE EARTH MOUND. TOTAL DISTANCE BETWEEN THE TREE LINE AT THE EDGE OF THE FIELDS AND THE STOPPING POINT WAS ABOUT 3,091 FT. THE LATTER PORTION OF THE PATH WAS MORE STEEPLY DOWNSLOPING THAN THE FIRST 2,150 FT. POST ACC EXAM REVEALED AN OIL LINE WHICH SHOWED EVIDENCE OF NOT HAVING BEEN PROPERLY CONNECTED.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time13:29 EST
Nearest Airport5nm W
Runway0
Runway Length0
Runway Width0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA-32R-300
Tail NumberN8727E
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
OperatorCard Wings Flight Service
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · IO-540-K1G5D · Reciprocating · 300
Seats6

People & Injuries

Injury Summary2 injuries (2 serious injuries)
Fatal0
Serious2
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total2
Crew 1Age 33 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind230° @ 13 kt
Visibility15 sm
CeilingBroken clouds 3500 ft
Temperature / Dew Point63 F / 48
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time17:51
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data