Piper PA-28R-201T N3074F
22 July 1992 · Las Vegas, Nevada, United States · Minor injuries
Summary
On 22 July 1992 at about 18:52 local time, a Piper PA-28R-201T registered N3074F, operated by Derobertis, John & Patricia, was involved in an accident near Las Vegas, Nevada, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 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 18:52
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
- Coordinates
- 36.0807, -115.1404
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28R-201T
- Registration
- N3074F
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Derobertis, John & Patricia
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Corona → Unknown
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- LAX92LA312
People
2 people had minor injuries.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
Probable cause
THE FAILURE OF THE MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL TO SAFETY THE ENGINE OIL DRAIN PLUG AND THE POOR ENGINE OVERHAUL. FACTORS RELATING TO THIS ACCIDENT ARE: OIL STARVATION; THE FAILURE OF THE CONNECTING RODS; THE INCORRECT CONNECTING ROD BOLTS; AND THE CONNECTING ROD BOLTS UNDERTORQUE.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
THE PILOT WAS COMPLETING A VISUAL PERSONAL FLIGHT. HE RECEIVED VECTORS TO RUNWAY 19 FINAL APPROACH COURSE AND WHEN THE AIRPLANE WAS ABOUT 2 MILES FROM THE RUNWAY THRESHOLD, THE PILOT APPLIED ADDITIONAL THROTTLE. THE ENGINE MOMENTARILY RESPONDED AND THEN CONTINUED TO MISS. THE PILOT HEARD A MUFFLED EXPLOSION AND OBSERVED A VERY SMALL PUFF OF WHITE/BLUE SMOKE EMANATING FROM THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ENGINE COWLING. THE ENGINE QUIT WHEN THE AIRPLANE WAS ABOUT 1 1/2 MILES FROM THE THRESHOLD AT 2,500 FEET MEAN SEA LEVEL. THE AIRPLANE'S ALTITUDE WAS INSUFFICIENT TO NEGOTIATE THE AIRPORT AND THE PILOT ELECTED TO LAND IN AN OPEN VACANT LOT. THE AIRPLANE BURST INTO FLAMES AFTER IT CAME TO REST. EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE SHOWED THAT DURING THE RECENT TOP OVERHAUL THE MECHANICS INSTALLED THE WRONG CONNECTING ROD BOLTS THAT WERE IMPROPERLY TORQUED. THE OIL DRAIN PLUG CAME LOOSE WHILE IN FLIGHT CAUSING THE ENGINE TO SUSTAIN A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE. THE MECHANICS FAILED TO SAFETY THE OIL DRAIN PLUG.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Piper PA-28R accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 22 Feb 1992 | Piper PA-28R-201T | Ludlow, California, United States | Higgins, Melvin W & Jean | Minor injuries | - |
| 2 Oct 1992 | Piper PA-28R-200 | Akron, New York, United States | Robert S. Gordy | Serious injuries | - |
| 5 Mar 1992 | Piper PA-28R-201T | Brewer, Maine, United States | James A. Chalfin | Serious injuries | - |
| 21 Mar 1992 | Piper PA-28R | Manville, New Jersey, United States | 69 Arrow Inc | No injuries | - |
| 20 Aug 1992 | Piper PA-28R-200 | Oviedo, Florida, United States | Francis Grady, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 12 Apr 1992 | Piper PA-28R-200 | Narrows, Virginia, United States | Dragon Rider Corp | Fatal | 4 |
All 1,342 records for this type
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 Mar 1992 | Bell 206BIII | Glenbrook, Nevada, United States | Smith Helicopter, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 2 Oct 1992 | Cessna 172P | Reno, Nevada, United States | Reno Flying Service | No injuries | - |
| 16 Mar 1992 | Piper PA-32-300 | Austin, Nevada, United States | Galen M. Reimer | No injuries | - |
| 1 Nov 1992 | Piper PA-22-150 | Reno, Nevada, United States | Nelson, Kevin | Serious injuries | - |
| 5 Nov 1992 | Bellanca 8KCAB | Pahrump, Nevada, United States | Woods, Elwood | Fatal | 1 |
| 19 Apr 1992 | Cessna 150 | Mesquite, Nevada, United States | Roberti, Michael | No injuries | - |