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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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January 21, 1989 · Piper PA-28R-201 · N3536M

Brighton, MI

Overview

Report Status
Probable Cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
January 21, 1989
Injury Outcomes
2 injuries (1 serious injury, 1 minor injury)
Location
Brighton, MI
Aircraft
Piper PA-28R-201
Tail Number
N3536M
Injuries
Serious
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
CHI89DEC02

The pilot was on a cross-country flight when he noticed the oil pressure was decreasing rapidly. He elected to make an off-airport landing, but the engine seized before he could reach the selected area. Subsequently, the aircraft was damaged during a wheels-up landing. Initial touchdown was on a gravel road and the aircraft hit a berm before slowing to a stop. An examination of the aircraft and engine revealed an oil (quick) drain valve (Aeroquip PN: AE80664H) had been installed on 7/10/87. It was installed with a 4-3/8 inch hose that extended below the engine reservoir, in the vicinity of the landing gear. Subsequently, the drain valve was pushed open by movement of the landing gear as it was being retracted. This resulted in loss of oil and subsequent engine seizure. This drain valve was not approved for installation on this model of aircraft. Piper Service Letter 910 and AD 81-11-02/R1 specified use of another valve (Piper PN: 492-172V).

NTSB Probable Cause

INSTALLATION OF AN IMPROPER OIL DRAIN VALVE BY OTHER MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL AND THEIR FAILURE TO FOLLOW THE APPLICABLE AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE (AD 81-11-02/R1), RESULTING IN SUBSEQUENT INTERFERENCE BETWEEN THE LANDING GEAR AND OIL DRAIN VALVE. THIS CAUSED THE VALVE TO MOVE OPEN & LEAK, WHICH RESULTED IN THE LOSS OF ALL ENGINE OIL.

Full Narrative

THE PLT WAS ON A X-COUNTRY FLT WHEN HE NOTICED THE OIL PRESSURE WAS DECREASING RAPIDLY. HE ELECTED TO MAKE AN OFF-AIRPORT LANDING, BUT THE ENGINE SEIZED BEFORE HE COULD REACH THE SELECTED AREA. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE AIRCRAFT WAS DAMAGED DURING A WHEELS UP LANDING. INITIAL TOUCHDOWN WAS ON A GRAVEL ROAD AND THE ACFT HIT A BERM BEFORE SLOWING TO A STOP. AN EXAM OF THE AIRCRAFT AND ENGINE REVEALED AN OIL (QUICK) DRAIN VALVE (AEROQUIP PN: AE80664H) HAD BEEN INSTALLED ON 7/10/87. IT WAS INSTALLED WITH A 4-3/8 INCH HOSE THAT EXTENDED BELOW THE ENGINE RESERVOIR, IN THE VICINITY OF THE LANDING GEAR. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE DRAIN VALVE WAS PUSHED OPEN BY MOVEMENT OF THE LANDING GEAR AS IT WAS BEING RETRACTED. THIS RESULTED IN LOSS OF OIL & SUBSEQUENT ENGINE SEIZURE. THIS DRAIN VALVE WAS NOT APPROVED FOR INSTALLATION ON THIS MODEL OF AIRCRAFT. PIPER SERVICE LETTER 910 & AD 81-11-02/R1 SPECIFIED USE OF ANOTHER VALVE (PIPER PN: 492-172V).

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time12:55 EST
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Runway Length0
Runway Width0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA-28R-201
Tail NumberN3536M
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · IO-360-C1C6 · Reciprocating · 200
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury Summary2 injuries (1 serious injury, 1 minor injury)
Fatal0
Serious1
Minor1
Uninjured0
Total2
Crew 1Age 51 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind220° @ 10 kt
Visibility15 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point19 C / 3 C
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time16:54
Weather SourcePILO

Appendix: Source Data