Pilot Debrief

PIPER PA-32-301 near Paris, TX — 2013-04-19

Final reportCEN13LA233
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Date
2013-04-19
Location
Paris, TX, USA
Aircraft
PIPER PA-32-301
Registration
N82723
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Cruise

Probable cause

The improper installation of the connecting rod bolts, which resulted in an engine failure.

NTSB narrative

While in cruise flight, the engine lost power and oil immediately covered the windscreen. The pilot initiated a forced landing to a field. During the forced landing, the airplane impacted terrain and sustained substantial damage to the right wing. Disassembly of the engine showed multiple failures of the connecting rod assemblies. Metallurgical examination of the connecting rod assemblies revealed that the connecting rods likely failed due to insufficient clamping force at the split lines at the crankshaft end of the connecting rods. The pieces showed evidence of the nuts backing off from at least 3 of the connecting rod bolts. Fatigue of the connecting rod bolt and connecting rod straps was secondary to the loss of clamping force at the split lines. It is likely that the connecting rod bolts were not installed properly during the last overhaul.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Engine power loss

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • 3 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents3

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