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December 8, 1988 · Piper PA-28-160 · N5875W

Crete, NE

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
December 8, 1988
Injury Outcomes
2 injuries (1 serious injury, 1 minor injury)
Location
Crete, NE
Aircraft
Piper PA-28-160
Tail Number
N5875W
Injuries
Serious
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
MKC89LA035

THE PVT PILOT SAID SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF, THE ENGINE COUGHED, SPUTTERED, THEN QUIT. AN EMERGENCY LDG WAS ATTEMPTED ON A FARM FIELD WHICH RESULTED IN SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE ACFT, SERIOUS INJURY TO THE PAX AND MINOR INJURIES TO THE PILOT. POST ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION REVEALED A FAILURE OF THE RIGHT MAGNETO DRIVE GEARS. A MANUFACTURER'S SERVICE BULLETIN THAT SPECIFIED REPLACEMENT OF THE NYLON DRIVE GEAR WITH A SINTERED IRON GEAR AT 2000 HOURS, OR THE FIRST OVERHAUL, HAD NOT BEEN COMPILED WITH. ENGINE RUNUP TESTS AFTER THE ACCIDENT REVEALED THE ENGINE WOULD NOT RUN ON THE RIGHT MAGNETO OR WHEN BOTH MAGNETOES WERE SELECTED.

Full Narrative

THE PVT PILOT SAID SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF, THE ENGINE COUGHED, SPUTTERED, THEN QUIT. AN EMERGENCY LDG WAS ATTEMPTED ON A FARM FIELD WHICH RESULTED IN SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE ACFT, SERIOUS INJURY TO THE PAX AND MINOR INJURIES TO THE PILOT. POST ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION REVEALED A FAILURE OF THE RIGHT MAGNETO DRIVE GEARS. A MANUFACTURER'S SERVICE BULLETIN THAT SPECIFIED REPLACEMENT OF THE NYLON DRIVE GEAR WITH A SINTERED IRON GEAR AT 2000 HOURS, OR THE FIRST OVERHAUL, HAD NOT BEEN COMPILED WITH. ENGINE RUNUP TESTS AFTER THE ACCIDENT REVEALED THE ENGINE WOULD NOT RUN ON THE RIGHT MAGNETO OR WHEN BOTH MAGNETOES WERE SELECTED.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time09:00 CST
Nearest Airport2nm ESE
Runway17
Runway Length3600 ft
Runway Width75 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA-28-160
Tail NumberN5875W
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-320-D2A · Reciprocating · 160
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury Summary2 injuries (1 serious injury, 1 minor injury)
Fatal0
Serious1
Minor1
Uninjured0
Total2
Crew 1Age 33 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind330° @ 7 kt
Visibility20 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point27 C / 18 C
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time15:53
Weather SourceWFAC

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Appendix: Source Data