Piper J3C-65 N70659
1 September 1990 · Opa-Locka, Florida, United States · Minor injuries
Summary
On 1 September 1990 at about 20:37 local time, a Piper J3C-65 registered N70659 was involved in an accident near Opa-Locka, Florida, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 20:37
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Opa-Locka, Florida, United States
- Nearest airport
- Opa Locka West (X46)
- Coordinates
- 25.9091, -80.2698
- Aircraft
- Piper J3C-65
- Registration
- N70659
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Not recorded
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Unknown
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Hollywood → Unknown
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- MIA90LA181
People
1 person had minor injuries.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Probable cause
ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO LACK OF OIL SUPPLY TO THE NUMBER 3 CYLINDER CONNECTING ROD FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS. THIS ALLOWED THE CONNECTING ROD END CAP TO SEPARATE THROUGH THE CASE RESULTING IN OIL EXHAUSTION.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
DURING NORMAL CRUISE FLT, THE PLT REPORTED THAT THE RPM WAS DECREASING & THE OIL TEMPERATURE WAS INCREASING. THE ENG THEN SEIZED. WITH POOR FWD VISIBILITY DUE TO OIL COVERING THE WINDSCREEN, HE OVERSHOT THE FIELD HE WAS ATTEMPTING TO LAND IN. THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH A FENCE THEN NOSED OVER. EXAM OF THE ENG REVEALED THAT THE NUMBER 3 CYLINDER CONNECTING ROD END CAP SEPARATED, EXISTED THE CASE & CAME TO REST IN THE OIL SUMP. LYCOMING ENG PERSONNEL STATED THAT THE SEPARATION OF THE ROD CAP WAS DUE TO A LACK OF LUBRICATION WHICH CAUSED THE ROD BOLTS TO STRETCH, LOSING THEIR TORQUE, & ONE OF THE TWO NUTS VIBRATED OFF. THE OTHER ROD BOLT FAILED DUE TO OVERLOAD. THE ENG RECEIVED A TOP OVERHAUL 136 HRS EARLIER & A MAJOR OVERHAUL WAS PERFORMED 2,122 HRS EARLIER. NO DETERMINATION COULD BE MADE AS TO THE REASON FOR THE LACK OF LUBRICATION.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Piper J3C accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 Jun 1990 | Piper J3C-65 | Wahpeton, North Dakota, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 17 Dec 1989 | Piper J3C-65 | Lynch, Nebraska, United States | - | Fatal | 1 |
| 5 Aug 1989 | Piper J3C-65 | Kodiak, Alaska, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 22 Apr 1989 | Piper J3C | Ashland, Nebraska, United States | Nelson, MAX M. | Fatal | 2 |
| 29 Jun 1991 | Piper J3C-65 | Brooker, Florida, United States | Osborne, George | Minor injuries | - |
| 25 May 1991 | Piper J3C-65 | Claremore, Oklahoma, United States | SAM Riggs | Fatal | 2 |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 Jan 1990 | Lockheed L1329 | Miami, Florida, United States | Tokoph, David | Fatal | 1 |
| 12 Dec 1990 | Cessna 172G | Jacksonville, Florida, United States | Weeks, Milton D. | Serious injuries | - |
| 6 Jan 1990 | Piper PA-30 | Tallahassee, Florida, United States | Calley, Nicholas O. | Serious injuries | - |
| 12 Dec 1990 | Piper PA-28-151 | Jupiter, Florida, United States | Zimmerman, Barry L. | No injuries | - |
| 20 Jan 1990 | Piper J-3 | Clewiston, Florida, United States | Nesbitt, James K. | Fatal | 2 |
| 15 Dec 1990 | Beechcraft F33A | Lakeland, Florida, United States | Globe Aero Ltd. | No injuries | - |