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January 1, 1987 · North American T-28C · N9022Y

Van Nuys, CA

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
January 1, 1987
Injury Outcomes
2 injuries (1 fatality, 1 minor injury)
Location
Van Nuys, CA
Aircraft
North American T-28C
Tail Number
N9022Y
Operator
Ronald S Miller
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
LAX87FA072

THE PLTS WERE PRACTICING LNDGS, AND WERE ON THE 3RD FLT AFTER THE ENG HAD BEEN OVERHAULED. AFTER TAKEOFF FROM A TOUGH-&-GO, THE INSTRUCTOR NOTICED THAT THE OIL TEMP WAS HIGH. SOON THEREAFTER, THE ENG BEGAN TO RUN ROUGH, THEN IT SEIZED. UNABLE TO GET BACK TO THE RWY, HE LANED IN A PLOWED FLD. HE SAID HE INTENDED TO LND WITH THE GEAR RETRACTED, BUT THE ACFT TOUCHED DOWN WITH THE GEAR EXTDD, THEN BOUNCED & NOSED OVR. THE CFI BELIEVED THE STUDENT MAY HAVE EXTDD THE GEAR, JUST BFR LNDG. INV REVEALED A CATASTROPHIC INTERNAL FAILURE OF THE ENG HAD OCCURRED. THERE WAS EVIDENCE OF AN OVERSPEED. A WITNESS RPRTD THAT DUE TO IMPROPER INSTLN OF THE CARB THROTTLE ARM, THE ENG WENT TO FULL PWR, WHEN IT WAS STARTED AFTER OVERHAUL. RPRTDLY, IT STAYED AT FULL PWR FOR SVRL MIN BFR IT COULD BE SHUT DOWN. A TEARDOWN REVEALED THE CONNECTING RODS HAD FAILED, THE CYL SKIRTS WERE DMGD, 1 PISTON WAS DESTROYED & OTRS WERE DMGD, SVRL BEARINGS WERE WORN & OVERHEATED, METAL CHIPS/CONTAMINATION FND IN ENG & OIL SYS. ENG HAD BEEN OPERD ABOUT 7 HRS SINCE OVERHAUL.

Full Narrative

THE PLTS WERE PRACTICING LNDGS, AND WERE ON THE 3RD FLT AFTER THE ENG HAD BEEN OVERHAULED. AFTER TAKEOFF FROM A TOUGH-&-GO, THE INSTRUCTOR NOTICED THAT THE OIL TEMP WAS HIGH. SOON THEREAFTER, THE ENG BEGAN TO RUN ROUGH, THEN IT SEIZED. UNABLE TO GET BACK TO THE RWY, HE LANED IN A PLOWED FLD. HE SAID HE INTENDED TO LND WITH THE GEAR RETRACTED, BUT THE ACFT TOUCHED DOWN WITH THE GEAR EXTDD, THEN BOUNCED & NOSED OVR. THE CFI BELIEVED THE STUDENT MAY HAVE EXTDD THE GEAR, JUST BFR LNDG. INV REVEALED A CATASTROPHIC INTERNAL FAILURE OF THE ENG HAD OCCURRED. THERE WAS EVIDENCE OF AN OVERSPEED. A WITNESS RPRTD THAT DUE TO IMPROPER INSTLN OF THE CARB THROTTLE ARM, THE ENG WENT TO FULL PWR, WHEN IT WAS STARTED AFTER OVERHAUL. RPRTDLY, IT STAYED AT FULL PWR FOR SVRL MIN BFR IT COULD BE SHUT DOWN. A TEARDOWN REVEALED THE CONNECTING RODS HAD FAILED, THE CYL SKIRTS WERE DMGD, 1 PISTON WAS DESTROYED & OTRS WERE DMGD, SVRL BEARINGS WERE WORN & OVERHEATED, METAL CHIPS/CONTAMINATION FND IN ENG & OIL SYS. ENG HAD BEEN OPERD ABOUT 7 HRS SINCE OVERHAUL.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time09:40 PST
Nearest AirportVANNUYS (0nm N)
Runway16R
Runway Length8001 ft
Runway Width150 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftNorth American T-28C
Tail NumberN9022Y
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
OperatorRonald S Miller
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsCurtis Wright · R-1820-86B · Reciprocating · 1425
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury Summary2 injuries (1 fatality, 1 minor injury)
Fatal1
Serious0
Minor1
Uninjured0
Total2
Crew 1Age 45 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
WindCalm
Visibility6 sm
CeilingOvercast 15000 ft
Temperature / Dew Point52 / 39 C
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time17:46
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data