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NTSB Report
July 26, 1989 · Piper PA-22 · N5925D
Placerville, CA
Overview
Report Status
Probable Cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
July 26, 1989
Injury Outcomes
3 injuries (3 serious injuries)
Location
Placerville, CA
Aircraft
Piper PA-22
Tail Number
N5925D
Injuries
Serious
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
LAX89LA247
SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF THE RPM DECAYED AND THE ENGINE SEIZED. THE INSTRUCTOR FLEW TO THE ONLY AVAILABLE FIELD IN THE AREA BUT IT WAS ON THE SIDE OF A HILL. THE FIELD WAS ROUGH, UNEVEN AND COVERED WITH ROCKS. THE AIRPLANE WAS DEMOLISHED AND ALL THREE PEOPLE ON THE AIRPLANE RECEIVED SERIOUS INJURIES. TEARDOWN OF THE ENGINE REVEALED THE CENTER MAIN BEARING HAD FAILED AND FRAGMENTS OF THE BEARING SEPARATED FROM THE BEARING BACKING, AND ROLLED UP BETWEEN THE BEARING AND CRANKSHAFT.
NTSB Probable Cause
THE IMPROPER MAINTENANCE PERFORMED AT THE LAST OVERHAUL WHICH RESULTED IN THE FAILURE OF THE #3 MAIN BEARING. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE LACK OF A SUITABLE LANDING AREA FOR THE EMERGENCY LANDING.
Full Narrative
SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF THE RPM DECAYED AND THE ENGINE SEIZED. THE INSTRUCTOR FLEW TO THE ONLY AVAILABLE FIELD IN THE AREA BUT IT WAS ON THE SIDE OF A HILL. THE FIELD WAS ROUGH, UNEVEN AND COVERED WITH ROCKS. THE AIRPLANE WAS DEMOLISHED AND ALL THREE PEOPLE ON THE AIRPLANE RECEIVED SERIOUS INJURIES. TEARDOWN OF THE ENGINE REVEALED THE CENTER MAIN BEARING HAD FAILED AND FRAGMENTS OF THE BEARING SEPARATED FROM THE BEARING BACKING, AND ROLLED UP BETWEEN THE BEARING AND CRANKSHAFT.
Flight
Event TypeAccident
Event Time18:45 PDT
Nearest AirportPlacerville (0nm S)
Runway0
Runway Length0
Runway Width0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo
Aircraft
AircraftPiper PA-22
Tail NumberN5925D
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-320 · Reciprocating · 150
Seats4
People & Injuries
Injury Summary3 injuries (3 serious injuries)
Fatal0
Serious3
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total3
Crew 1Age 45 · Third Class
Conditions
ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
WindCalm
Visibility5 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point0 C / 0 C
Altimeter0
Weather SourcePILO