Premium research interface

The modern interface for aviation safety intelligence.

Search investigations, review source evidence, monitor watched reports, and trace long-term patterns from one calm, data-first workspace.

63k+
Reports indexed
1940-2026
Coverage
Recent
Last data refresh
Featured Report

Loading…

Loading featured report…

Loading…
Open Report

Safety trends by operating rule

Track fatal and non-fatal accident patterns across Part 91, Part 135, and Part 121 operations.

Loading trend charts…

Browse the aviation graph

Move quickly by aircraft, airport, operator, and time with indexes built for research, not wandering.

Last Data Update

By Decade

By Month

Aircraft Manufacturer

More manufacturers

Airports

More airports

Operators

More operators

About

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.

The goal is practical safety education: make it faster to find relevant investigations, compare similar events, review factual records, and understand the evidence behind probable-cause and preliminary reports.

The investigative work and source records belong to the National Transportation Safety Board and the published investigation record. This site is not affiliated with or endorsed by the NTSB.

FAQs

NTSB Report

September 28, 2017 · Piper PA 25-235 Undesignat · N7336Z

Westphalia, KS

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
September 28, 2017
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (1 uninjured)
Location
Westphalia, KS
Aircraft
Piper PA 25-235 Undesignat (1965)
Tail Number
N7336Z
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
CEN17LA372

The commercial pilot reported that he departed in the airplane with full fuel and chemical for the aerial application flight. After spraying a field for about 20 minutes, the engine experienced a total loss of power. The pilot jettisoned the chemical load and initiated a forced landing to a field. About 5 ft above the field, as the pilot tried to bleed off airspeed, the airplane stalled and impacted terrain. Disassembly and examination of the engine revealed that the crankshaft was fractured, and the main bearings displayed thermal damage and smearing. Material examination of the crankshaft showed features consistent with a subsurface crack initiation and fatigue crack propagation. The fatigue striations, particularly near the initiation site, were consistent with high-cycle fatigue. The forward main bearings exhibited spalling, displacement, and cracking consistent with bearing wear fatigue. All the bearing damage was typical of similar bearings that had been operated at elevated temperatures using inadequate lubrication. The main bearing damage was likely the result of main bearing shift and a blockage of the lubrication paths. The blockage resulted in a lack of lubrication, main bearing failure, and a fatigue failure of the crankshaft. The reason for the main bearing shift could not be determined based on the available information.

NTSB Probable Cause

A total loss of engine power due to a fatigue failure of the crankshaft that resulted from main bearing shift and lack of lubrication.

Full Narrative

On September 28, 2017, at 1716 central daylight time, a Piper PA-25-235 airplane, N7336Z, impacted terrain following a loss of engine power while maneuvering at low altitude near Westphalia, Kansas. The commercial pilot, who was the sole occupant, was not injured, and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The airplane was registered to and operated by a private individual under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 as an aerial application flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed for the flight. The local flight departed the Garnett Municipal Airport (K68), Garnett, Kansas, about 1630. According to the pilot, the airplane departed K68 with full fuel and chemical for the aerial application flight. After spraying a field for about 20 minutes, the engine lost power. The pilot jettisoned his chemical load and initiated a forced landing to a field. About 5 feet above the field as the pilot tried to bleed off airspeed, the airplane stalled and impacted terrain. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The Lycoming O-540-B2B5 engine was removed from the airframe for further examination. A review of the maintenance records showed the engine underwent a field major overhaul on January 28, 2016, about 218 hours prior to the accident. On October 25, 2017, the engine was disassembled under the supervision of the Federal Aviation Administration inspectors. Disassembly of the engine revealed the crankshaft was fractured, and the main bearings displayed thermal damage and smearing. The crankshaft and main bearings were retained for further examination. The fractured crankshaft and forward main journal bearings were examined by the National Transportation Safety Board Materials Laboratory. Examination of the crankshaft showed a fracture across a web located between the second cylinder (C2) journal and the second main (M2) journal. Approximately 60% of the fracture surface exhibited a general flat portion with crack arrest marks. The crack arrest marks appeared to emanate out from near the corner of the web near the M2 journal. The crack arrest features were not consistent with having progressed from a surface or from an internal feature, but were consistent with a subsurface crack initiation, and fatigue crack propagation. The fatigue striations, particularly near the initiation site, were consistent with high-cycle fatigue. The forward main bearing (M1) journal displayed discoloration and dark circumferential wear marks on the aft most two inches. One aft bearing surface revealed spalling, displacement, and cracking consistent with bearing wear fatigue. The other aft bearing surface exhibited spalling, material displacement, and smearing. Much of the spalled and smeared material was found accumulated in the lubrication groove. All the bearing damage was typical of similar bearings that operated at elevated temperatures with inadequate lubrication.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time17:16 CDT
Nearest Airport0nm
Flight Plan FiledNone
Flight Plan ActivatedNo
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA 25-235 Undesignat
Tail NumberN7336Z
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 137
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-540-B2B5 · Reciprocating · 260
Seats1

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (1 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total1
Crew 1Age 43 · Second Class · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind360° @ 6 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point54
Altimeter30.20 inHg
Observation Time21:53
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data