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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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June 9, 2017 · Piper PA 32R-301T · N782SW

Dalhart, TX

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
June 9, 2017
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 minor injury), 1 uninjured
Location
Dalhart, TX
Aircraft
Piper PA 32R-301T (1983)
Tail Number
N782SW
Injuries
Minor
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
CEN17LA226

The airplane was in cruise flight when the engine's forward main seal (crankshaft seal) began to leak engine oil. Shortly thereafter, the engine lost power, and the pilot subsequently performed a forced landing to a field about 5 miles west of the departure airport. Postaccident examination of the engine revealed that the bottom half of the crankshaft seal had slipped forward from its placement, which allowed engine oil to leak from the engine. The seal had an approximate time in service of 21 hours since its replacement. It is likely that maintenance personne installed an improperly sized crankshaft seal, which led to it slipping, allowing the engine oil to leak.

NTSB Probable Cause

The failure of the engine's front bearing seal due to maintenance personnel’s installation of an improperly sized crankshaft seal, which resulted in oil starvation and a forced landing.

Full Narrative

On June 9, 2017, about 1505 central daylight time, a Piper PA-32R-301T, N782SW, experienced a loss of engine power during cruise flight. The airplane impacted terrain during a forced landing to a field near Dalhart, Texas. The airplane received substantial damage. The pilot was uninjured, and the passenger sustained minor injuries. The airplane was operated by the pilot under 14 Code of Federal Regulations as a personal flight that was operating on a visual flight rules flight plan. The flight originated from Dalhart Municipal Airport (DHT), about 1456, and was destined to Angel Fire Airport (AXX), Angel Fire, New Mexico. A National Transportation Safety Board Pilot/Operator Accident/Incident Report was not received from the pilot. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector reported that the airplane was in cruise flight when the engine's forward main seal (crankshaft seal) began to leak engine oil. The engine lost power shortly afterward, and the pilot performed a forced landing to a field about five miles west of DHT. A post-accident photo of the seal shows that the bottom half of the seal slipped forward from its placement. The airplane exterior was covered with engine oil. The airplane was powered by a Lycoming TIO-540-S1AD, serial number L-7309-61A, engine. An engine logbook entry dated November 14, 2016, with a tachometer time/total time of 5,995.01 hours, showed an "oversized" front crankshaft seal, part number LW-15628P50, was installed. The next logbook entry was dated March 6, 2017, with a tachometer/total time of 5,998.0 hours, for an annual inspection performed by the same mechanic that installed the crankshaft seal. The airplane accumulated about 22 hours since the replacement of the seal, with a total time of 6,016.8 hours at the time of the accident.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time15:05 CDT
Nearest AirportDalhart Municipal Airport (5nm W)
Flight Plan FiledVFR
Flight Plan ActivatedYes
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA 32R-301T
Tail NumberN782SW
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · TIO-540-S1AD · Reciprocating · 300
Seats6

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 minor injury), 1 uninjured
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor1
Uninjured1
Total2
Crew 1Age 50 · Third Class · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind6 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point48
Altimeter29.86 inHg
Observation Time19:53
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data