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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

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NTSB Report

November 24, 1984 · Piper PA-28 · N43530

Alexandria, SD

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
November 24, 1984
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 minor injury)
Location
Alexandria, SD
Aircraft
Piper PA-28
Tail Number
N43530
Injuries
Minor
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
DEN85LA032

THE ACFT MADE A FORCED LANDING IN A PLOWED FIELD AFTER THE ENGINE FAILED. THE PLT REPORTED THAT DURING CRUISE FLT HE HEARD A FAINT KNOCK FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. HE REDUCED POWER AND CALLED FSS. ALMOST IMMEDIATELY THE ENGINE BEGAN TO VIBRATE. THE PLT REDUCED POWER FURTHER AND THE ACFT STARTED TO DESCEND FROM 6500 FT MSL. THE WINDSHIELD BECAME OIL COVERED AND THE COCKPIT SOMEWHAT FILLED WITH SMOKE. THE PLT CIRCLED A LARGE FIELD AND UPON LANDING THE NOSE GEAR AND LEFT MAIN GEAR COLLAPSED. THE ACFT CAUGHT FIRE AND BURNED COMPLETELY. POST ACCIDENT EXAM OF THE ENGINE SHOWED THAT #3 ROD FROZE TO THE CRANKSHAFT. THE LUBRICATING SYSTEM SEEMED TO HAVE BEEN FUNCTIONING IN A NORMAL MANNER. THE LAST 100 INSPECTION WAS ON 7/1/84 AT 4139 HOURS TOTAL ACFT TIME. NO LOGBOOK ENTRIES INDICATED ENGINE MALFUNCTIONS. THE PLT SAID THAT THE OIL TEMPERATURE GAGE INDICATED ALMOST IN THE RED AND THE OIL ALWAYS APPEARED EXTREMELY BLACK (ON PRE-FLT).

Full Narrative

THE ACFT MADE A FORCED LANDING IN A PLOWED FIELD AFTER THE ENGINE FAILED. THE PLT REPORTED THAT DURING CRUISE FLT HE HEARD A FAINT KNOCK FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. HE REDUCED POWER AND CALLED FSS. ALMOST IMMEDIATELY THE ENGINE BEGAN TO VIBRATE. THE PLT REDUCED POWER FURTHER AND THE ACFT STARTED TO DESCEND FROM 6500 FT MSL. THE WINDSHIELD BECAME OIL COVERED AND THE COCKPIT SOMEWHAT FILLED WITH SMOKE. THE PLT CIRCLED A LARGE FIELD AND UPON LANDING THE NOSE GEAR AND LEFT MAIN GEAR COLLAPSED. THE ACFT CAUGHT FIRE AND BURNED COMPLETELY. POST ACCIDENT EXAM OF THE ENGINE SHOWED THAT #3 ROD FROZE TO THE CRANKSHAFT. THE LUBRICATING SYSTEM SEEMED TO HAVE BEEN FUNCTIONING IN A NORMAL MANNER. THE LAST 100 INSPECTION WAS ON 7/1/84 AT 4139 HOURS TOTAL ACFT TIME. NO LOGBOOK ENTRIES INDICATED ENGINE MALFUNCTIONS. THE PLT SAID THAT THE OIL TEMPERATURE GAGE INDICATED ALMOST IN THE RED AND THE OIL ALWAYS APPEARED EXTREMELY BLACK (ON PRE-FLT).

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time03:18 CST
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledVFR
Aircraft FireGrd
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA-28
Tail NumberN43530
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-320-E3D · Reciprocating · 150
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 minor injury)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor1
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 47 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDark Night
Wind200° @ 5 kt, gusting 10 kt
Visibility50 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point52 / 25 C
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Weather SourcePILO

Appendix: Source Data