Pilot Debrief

PIPER PA-28-151 near Marana, AZ — 2024-04-19

Final reportANC24LA027
Sign in to save
Date
2024-04-19
Location
Marana, AZ, USA
Airport
P08
Aircraft
PIPER PA-28-151
Registration
N4399X
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Cruise

Probable cause

A total loss of engine power due to a failure of the No. 4 cylinder piston boss.

NTSB narrative

The flight instructor and student pilot were conducting a cross-country flight when the engine began to run rough and make grinding noises. The engine then stopped producing power, and the propeller would not windmill. The instructor attempted to restart the engine and performed a forced landing to a field, during which the airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings. Postaccident examination of the engine revealed significant wear to the camshaft lobes, as well as evidence of catastrophic failure of the No. 4 piston assembly. The damage appeared to originate from the area of the piston pin and boss; however, the failure features were obliterated during the event, preventing an accurate assessment of its origin. The engine was most recently overhauled about 21 years and 2,190 flight hours before the accident. The manufacturer’s recommended time between overhaul (TBO) interval was 2,200 flight hours or 12 years, whichever occurs first.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Engine power loss
First missed decision gate
Perform engine oil analysis to detect issues before the flight.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • Photos
  • 7 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents7

Related mishaps