Aviation Crash Map

Piper PA-32-260 N7732J

27 April 1990 · Tulsa, Oklahoma, United States · Minor injuries

Summary

On 27 April 1990 at about 14:27 local time, a Piper PA-32-260 registered N7732J, operated by Martinaire, was involved in an accident near Tulsa, Oklahoma, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

The record

Date
at 14:27
Classification
Accident
Location
Tulsa, Oklahoma, United States
Nearest airport
Tulsa Int. (TWL)
Coordinates
36.1890, -95.9097
Aircraft
Piper PA-32-260
Registration
N7732J
Category
Airplane
Engines
1
Operator
Martinaire
Operating rule
Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
Purpose of flight
Unknown
Phase of flight
Not recorded
Route
Dallas → Unknown
Aircraft damage
Destroyed
Weather
VMC
Light
Day
NTSB number
FTW90LA102

People

1 person had minor injuries.

On board Died Serious Minor Uninjured
1 0 0 1 0

Probable cause

AN ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO A DISCONNECT IN THE MAGNETO DRIVE TRAIN CAUSED BY THE CRANKSHAFT GEAR NOT BEING PROPERLY INSTALLED AND SECURED DURING A RECENT ENGINE OVERHAUL.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

WHILE ON FINAL, THE ENGINE QUIT WITHOUT WARNING AND THE PILOT WAS FORCED TO EXECUTE A FORCED LANDING INTO A HEAVILY WOODED BIRD SANCTUARY. EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED THAT THE CRANKSHAFT GEAR ATTACHMENT BOLT WAS LOOSE WITH 0.196 INCHES OF PLAY AND THE DOWEL PIN WAS SHEARED. GEAR INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS CALLED FOR THE GEAR TO BE SEATED WITH A DRIFT AND HAMMER WITH NO MORE THAN 0.001 INCHES OF CLEARANCE. OTHERWISE, THE DOWEL PIN WOULD BE OFFSET AND WORK. BOTH THE BOLT AND THE DOWEL PIN SHOWED EVIDENCE OF WORKING. SHEARING OF THE CRANKSHAFT DOWEL PIN WOULD HAVE RELEASED THE GEAR TO ROTATE ABOUT THE BOLT, THUS DISCONNECTING THE GEAR AND THE IDLER GEARS WHICH TRANSMITTED TORQUE TO THE MAGNETOS. SECONDARY DAMAGE WAS OBSERVED IN THE LEFT MAGNETO. MAINTENANCE RECORDS INDICATED THAT THE ENGINE HAD BEEN OVERHAULED 88.7 HOURS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.

Other Piper PA-32 accidents

Date Aircraft Location Operator Outcome Died
24 Aug 1990 Piper PA-32
N5206S
Kashvik Bay, Alaska, United States - No injuries -
11 Dec 1990 Piper PA-32
N8225J
Kongikank, Alaska, United States Ervin, Terry No injuries -
22 Nov 1990 Piper PA-32-RT300
N9800K
Gaylord, Michigan, United States - Fatal 4
16 Mar 1990 Piper PA-32-301
N8290T
Almautlak, Alaska, United States Arctic Circle Air Service Fatal 1
23 May 1990 Piper PA-32-300
N301KK
Little Rock, Arkansas, United States
no coordinates
- No injuries -
10 Jun 1990 Piper PA-32-300
N3AH
Havasu Landing, California, United States Darrel L. Gillman Fatal 3

All 1,695 records for this type

Other accidents in this area

Date Aircraft Location Operator Outcome Died
31 Mar 1990 Piper PA28-140
N7174R
Durant, Oklahoma, United States - No injuries -
8 Jun 1990 Boeing E75
N55292
Watonga, Oklahoma, United States - No injuries -
18 Aug 1990 Piper PA-28-140
N8335R
Kansas, Oklahoma, United States - Minor injuries -
20 Aug 1990 Cessna 172M
N73571
Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, United States Proflight Minor injuries -
1 Sep 1990 Cessna C172N
N6434J
Marietta, Oklahoma, United States - Minor injuries -
9 Sep 1990 Beechcraft E 33
N7155N
Tulsa, Oklahoma, United States Lefler, Roger W. Fatal 1

All 170,864 records in United States