Piper PA-32-300 N4113R

Summary

On 16 October 1988 at about 17:17 local time, a Piper PA-32-300 registered N4113R, operated by Northern Arizona Aircraft, was involved in an accident near Sedona, Arizona, United States. 5 people were on board and 5 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

16 October 1988 at 17:17

Classification

Accident

Location

Sedona, Arizona, United States

Coordinates

34.9408, -111.9409

Aircraft

Piper PA-32-300

Registration

N4113R

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Northern Arizona Aircraft

Operating rule

Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter

Purpose of flight

Unknown

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Sedona → Sedona

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX89FA014

5 people died.

TOTAL FAILURE OF THE MAGNETO'S IMPULSE COUPLING WHICH RESULTED IN A SHEARING OF THE CRANKSHAFT'S IDLER GEAR TEETH AND THE CRANKSHAFT DOWEL PIN.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PLT & 4 FARE-PAYING PAX WERE ENROUTE TO THE GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK FOR AERIAL SIGHTSEEING. AN INTERNAL FAILURE OF THE LEFT MAGNETO (MAG) RESULTED IN A TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE PWR. THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH TERRAIN & WAS DESTROYED BY GROUND FIRE. THE MAG WAS SUBJECT TO AD 78-09-07 R3 WHICH ADDRESSED IMPULSE COUPLING FAILURE. UPON EXAM IT WAS NOT FOUND TO HAVE BEEN IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE AD. THE AIR TAXI COMPANY HAD TWO EMPLOYEES; AN OWNER/PRESIDENT/PILOT AND A DIRECTOR OF MAINTENANCE/MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC ACKNOWLEDEGED HE FAILED TO FOLLOW THE CURRECT GUIDELINE IN THE CORRECT AD. AS A RESULT, THE IMPULSE COUPLING JAMMED WHEN THE FLYWEIGHT TO STOP PIN CLEARANCE BECAME ZERO. THIS ACTION SHEARED OFF TEETH ON THE ENGINE'S CRANKSHAFT GEAR & DOWEL PIN.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.