Pilot Debrief

PIPER PA-28R-200 near Eliza Island, WA — 2010-03-17

Final reportWPR10LA165
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Date
2010-03-17
Location
Eliza Island, WA, USA
Airport
WA93
Aircraft
PIPER PA-28R-200
Registration
N1KU
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Climb

Probable cause

The total loss of engine power during cruise flight due to the failure of maintenance personnel to tighten a fitting on the propeller governor oil line, which resulted in a loss of engine oil and catastrophic engine failure.

NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that the airplane had recently underwent an annual inspection and the accident flight was to be the first flight after the maintenance. After about 10 to 15 minutes into the flight, the engine experienced a total loss of power. During a forced landing to a grass strip, the pilot turned the controls over to his more experienced pilot-rated passenger to perform the landing. As the airplane slowed for landing, the automatic landing gear extension system deployed the landing gear. The airplane subsequently landed short of the runway and the right wing struck a post. The fuselage was twisted and both wings were bent/wrinkled as a result. A postaccident examination of the engine revealed that the crankcase was cracked and the bottom of the fuselage was covered with oil. The oil was traced to originate from a fitting that attached the propeller governor high-pressure oil line from the nose of the crankcase to the propeller governor. The fitting was found to be loose and likely not adequately tightened by maintenance personnel. Maintenance records indicated that during the annual inspection the propeller governor on the engine's accessory section had been removed in an effort to replace its gasket.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Engine power loss
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have aborted the flight after noticing engine issues during climb.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

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

Docket documents4

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