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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

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March 18, 1986 · Piper PA-28R-180 · N7613J

Crossville, TN

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
March 18, 1986
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (4 uninjured)
Location
Crossville, TN
Aircraft
Piper PA-28R-180
Tail Number
N7613J
Operator
Oldach Albert J Jr
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
ATL86LA099

ON TAKEOFF THE PLT SAW AN OIL LEAK AROUND THE PROP HUB. THE ACFT WAS RETURNED TO THE AIRPORT AND THE PROP GOVERNOR OIL TUBE FITTING WAS FOUND TO BE CRACKED. THE PART WAS REPLACED AND THE FLT WAS CONTINUED. THE PART WAS CHECKED DURING A LATER REFUELING STOP AND WAS NOT FOUND TO BE LEAKING. DURING CRUISE IN MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN AN OIL LEAK WAS AGAIN SEEN. VECTORS WERE RECEIVED TO A NEARBY ARPT. THE ENG QUIT AND THE PLT ATTEMPTED AN EMERGENCY LANDING DURING WHICH THE ACFT STRUCK A TREE. EXAMINATION OF THE ENG SHOWED THAT THE OIL LINE FITTING HAD AGAIN CRACKED. BOTH FITTINGS WERE FOUND BY METALLURGICAL EXAMINATION TO HAVE FAILED DUE TO A LOW STRESS HIGH CYCLE FATIGUE INDUCED BY A HIGH MEAN TENSILE STRESS. THE OIL LINE WAS FOUND TO BE UNRESTRAINED ALTHOUGH THE SERVICE MANUAL CALLS FOR TWO CLAMPS. THE RESULTING VIBRATION INDUCED THE STRESS LOADS AS SEEN ON THE TWO FITTINGS.

Full Narrative

ON TAKEOFF THE PLT SAW AN OIL LEAK AROUND THE PROP HUB. THE ACFT WAS RETURNED TO THE AIRPORT AND THE PROP GOVERNOR OIL TUBE FITTING WAS FOUND TO BE CRACKED. THE PART WAS REPLACED AND THE FLT WAS CONTINUED. THE PART WAS CHECKED DURING A LATER REFUELING STOP AND WAS NOT FOUND TO BE LEAKING. DURING CRUISE IN MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN AN OIL LEAK WAS AGAIN SEEN. VECTORS WERE RECEIVED TO A NEARBY ARPT. THE ENG QUIT AND THE PLT ATTEMPTED AN EMERGENCY LANDING DURING WHICH THE ACFT STRUCK A TREE. EXAMINATION OF THE ENG SHOWED THAT THE OIL LINE FITTING HAD AGAIN CRACKED. BOTH FITTINGS WERE FOUND BY METALLURGICAL EXAMINATION TO HAVE FAILED DUE TO A LOW STRESS HIGH CYCLE FATIGUE INDUCED BY A HIGH MEAN TENSILE STRESS. THE OIL LINE WAS FOUND TO BE UNRESTRAINED ALTHOUGH THE SERVICE MANUAL CALLS FOR TWO CLAMPS. THE RESULTING VIBRATION INDUCED THE STRESS LOADS AS SEEN ON THE TWO FITTINGS.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time19:47 EST
Nearest AirportCrossville (3nm SW)
Runway0
Runway Length0
Runway Width0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA-28R-180
Tail NumberN7613J
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorOldach Albert J Jr
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · IO-360-B1E · Reciprocating · 180
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (4 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured4
Total4
Crew 1Age 44 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDark Night
WindCalm
Visibility12 sm
CeilingBroken clouds 25000 ft
Temperature / Dew Point55 / 0 C
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time00:55
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data