Piper PA-20 N2841P

Summary

On 30 August 1989 at about 00:45 local time, a Piper PA-20 registered N2841P, operated by Prachar, Kenneth M, was involved in an accident near Moose Lake, Minnesota, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

30 August 1989 at 00:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Moose Lake, Minnesota, United States

Coordinates

46.4390, -92.7597

Aircraft

Piper PA-20

Registration

N2841P

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Prachar, Kenneth M

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Moose Lake → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

MKC89FA191

2 people died.

SEVERE CORROSION OF THE LOWER FORWARD LIFT STRUT FOR THE RIGHT WING, INADEQUATE INSPECTION OF THE LIFT STRUT BY MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL, AND SUBSEQUENT FAILURE OF THE LIFT STRUT, WHICH RESULTED IN AN OVERLOAD FAILURE (FOLDING BACK) OF THE WING. RELATED FACTORS WERE: INADEQUATE INSPECTION PROCEDURES PROVIDED BY THE MANUFACTURER & INADEQUATE SURVEILLANCE BY THE FAA.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE ACFT (PIPER PA-22, CONVERTED TO A PA-20, IAW STC SA45AM) WAS BEING USED TO PROVIDE A BIENNIAL FLT REVIEW FOR THE OWNER/PLT (CONSIDERED AS PIC ON THIS FLT). DRG FLT, THE RGT WING FOLDED BACK OVER THE FUSELAGE & THE ACFT CRASHED. AN EXAM OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED THE FWD LIFT STRUT FOR THE RGT WING HAD FAILED IN AN AREA OF SEVERE CORROSION. THE FAILUREOCCURRED AT THE LOWER PART OF THE LIFT STRUT NEAR THE FUSELAGE ATTACHMENT POINT. AN EXAM OF THE ANNUAL INSPN CHECKLIST INDCD ALL APPLICABLE AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES (AD'S) WERE COMPLIED WITH AS OF 7/21/89 & THAT THE LIFT STRUTS WERE VISUALLY INSPD AT THE ANNUAL INSPN. THE ACFT LOGBOOK SHOWED THAT AD 77-03-08 (REQUIRING MECHANICAL TESTING OF THE LIFT STRUT FOR EVIDENCE OF CORROSION AT 5 YR INTERVALS) HAD BEEN COMPLIED WITH IN JULY 1988. THE AROMA OF LINSEED OIL WAS NOTED IN ALL LIFT STRUTS, BUT POLYMERIZED LINSEED OIL WAS FOUND IN THE RGT & LEFT REAR STRUTS. INTERNAL CORROSION HAD PERFORATED THE RGT FWD LIFT STRUT PRIOR TO ITS FAILURE.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.