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July 17, 2011 · Piper PA-24-250 · N5532P

Lopez, WA

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
July 17, 2011
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (1 uninjured)
Location
Lopez, WA
Aircraft
Piper PA-24-250
Tail Number
N5532P
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
WPR11LA340

The pilot reported that, during cruise flight, he heard a loud bang and felt a vibration. The cockpit filled with smoke, and oil covered the windshield, both of which compromised the pilot's view. He opened a side vent window and regained visibility. The pilot chose to land on a nearby landing strip. During the landing roll, the pilot realized that the strip was short and wet, so he intentionally placed the airplane in a "ground slide." Before the airplane came to a stop, its left wing struck a fence post, which caused structural damage to the airplane. The pilot reported that, during his postaccident examination of the airplane, he observed a crack in the engine case near the rear cylinder on the engine's left side. No further examination was accomplished.

NTSB Probable Cause

Environmental issues-Physical environment-Object/animal/substance-Fence/fence post-Contributed to outcome

Full Narrative

On July 16, 2011, at 1830 Pacific daylight time, a Piper PA-24-250, N5532P, experienced a loss of engine power during cruise flight. The pilot subsequently made a forced landing to a private grass strip near Lopez, Washington. The owner/pilot operated the airplane under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal cross-country flight. The commercial pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. During the landing roll, the left wing was substantially damaged when it struck a fence post. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight that departed Roche Harbor Airport (WA09), Roche Harbor, Washington, at 1815. The flight was destined for Frontier Airpark (WN53), Lake Stevens, Washington. No flight plan had been filed.The pilot reported that the airplane was in cruise flight about 2,000 feet near Spencer Island. He heard a loud bang, felt an extreme vibration, had smoke in the cockpit, and oil covered the windshield. He reduced engine power to idle, opened the side vent window, and was able to regain visibility. He chose the closest landing strip, and landed the airplane. On the landing rollout, the pilot stated that the grass strip was shorter than what he would need to bring the airplane to a stop and the runway surface was wet. He intentionally placed the airplane in a "ground slide," and prior to coming to a stop, the left wing struck a fence post. During the post-accident inspection of the engine, the pilot observed a crack in the engine block near the rear cylinder on the pilot's side. No further examination was accomplished.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time18:30 PDT
Nearest AirportWindsock Airport (0nm)
Runway20
Runway Length1800 ft
Runway Width50 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Flight Plan ActivatedNo
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA-24-250
Tail NumberN5532P
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-540-A1D5 · Reciprocating · 250
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (1 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total1
Crew 1Age 59 · Third Class · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
WindCalm
Visibility10 sm
CeilingBroken clouds 3600 ft
Temperature / Dew Point66 F / 61 F
Altimeter29.80 inHg
Observation Time01:36
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data