Piper PA-28-151 N991DB

Summary

On 4 March 1990 at about 17:19 local time, a Piper PA-28-151 registered N991DB was involved in an accident near Creola, Alabama, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 were seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

4 March 1990 at 17:19

Classification

Accident

Location

Creola, Alabama, United States

Coordinates

30.8894, -87.9993

Aircraft

Piper PA-28-151

Registration

N991DB

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Unknown

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ATL90FA071

2 people were seriously injured.

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO ASSURE THAT PROPER MAINTENANCE AND INSPECTION OF THE AIRCRAFT WERE COMPLETED BEFORE FLIGHT.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PRIVATE PILOT WAS TEST FLYING AN AIRPLANE FOLLOWING A NUMBER THREE CYLINDER CHANGE. ON INITIAL CLIMB, THE ENGINE BEGAN TO VIBRATE, BACKFIRE AND LOSE POWER. THE AIRPLANE CRASHED ON A HIGHWAY MEDIAN LOCATED ABOUT ONE MILE FROM THE AIRPORT CENTER. A POST-CRASH INSPECTION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED A PIECE OF EXHAUST VALVE LODGED IN THE NUMBER ONE PISTON HEAD. ANOTHER VALVE FRAGMENT WAS FOUND INSIDE THE MUFFLER. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE NUMBER THREE CYLINDER CHANGE WAS THE RESULT OF A PREVIOUSLY FAILED NUMBER THREE EXHAUST VALVE AND SUBSEQUENT INTERNAL DAMAGE TO THE NUMBER THREE CYLINDER. AN ASSUMPTION WAS MADE THAT THE FRAGMENTS FROM THE FAILED VALVE HAD EXITED THE ENGINE VIA THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. A LOCAL MECHANIC CHANGED THE CYLINDER, BUT DID NOT COMPLETE THE REPAIR DUE TO A LACK OF TIME. THE PILOT FINISHED THE REPAIR, TEST RAN THE ENGINE, AND FLEW THE AIRPLANE ON THE ACCIDENT FLIGHT. THE ENGINE WAS NOT CERTIFIED AIRWORTHY PRIOR TO THE FLIGHT.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.