Pilot Debrief

PIPER PA 32R-301T near Dalhart, TX — 2017-06-09

Final reportCEN17LA226
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Date
2017-06-09
Location
Dalhart, TX, USA
Airport
DHT
Aircraft
PIPER PA 32R-301T
Registration
N782SW
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Minor
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Cruise

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.

NTSB narrative

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.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Engine power loss
First missed decision gate
Maintenance decision on crankshaft seal installation could have prevented failure.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

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

Docket documents3

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