Piper PA-22-108 N4992Z

Summary

On 30 August 1996 at about 21:30 local time, a Piper PA-22-108 registered N4992Z was involved in an accident near Ashland, Oregon, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

30 August 1996 at 21:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Ashland, Oregon, United States

Nearest airport

Ashland Municipal (S03)

Coordinates

42.1492, -122.5293

Aircraft

Piper PA-22-108

Registration

N4992Z

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Ashland → Creswell

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

SEA96LA206

Nobody was injured.

inadequate inspection of the airplane by maintenance personnel,and a worn exhaust clamp, which resulted in a disconnected exhaust pipe, exhaust leak, burning and shorting of electrical wiring associated with the voltage regulator, and a cabin fire.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The private pilot, who was also an A&P mechanic, and a passenger took off on a cross-country flight. During the initial climbout, the pilot smelled something burning and decided to return for landing. White smoke entered the cockpit, followed by black smoke and a small flame under the instrument panel. While on short final approach, the engine lost power, and the pilot could not see outside the airplane due to the smoke in the cabin. The airplane touched down and the occupants escaped without injury. The airplane continued to burn and was destroyed. Examination of the wreckage revealed that a worn exhaust system clamp had come loose. The exhaust pipe became disconnected and imparted hot gasses onto the voltage regulator. The electrical wiring on the regulator subsequently burned and became shorted. An electrical fire and cabin fire followed. The pilot/mechanic had purchased the airplane three months before the accident after an annual inspection. The maintenance log books were not recovered. Verification of the last inspections, as well as compliance with an FAA airworthiness directive regarding exhaust system inspection every 50 hours, could not be confirmed.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.