Piper PA-46 N446RD

Summary

On 19 December 1996 at about 20:21 local time, a Piper PA-46 registered N446RD was involved in an accident near Red Oak, Iowa, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

19 December 1996 at 20:21

Classification

Accident

Location

Red Oak, Iowa, United States

Coordinates

41.0106, -95.2192

Aircraft

Piper PA-46

Registration

N446RD

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Business

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Milford → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CHI97LA050

Nobody was injured.

the pilot's inadequate preflight and failure to make a precautionary landing. Additional factors included oil starvation and the failed connecting rod and rod bearing.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The temperature at takeoff was about 0 degrees F. The aircraft had been kept in an unheated hangar. An oil heater was installed on the aircraft. Oil pressure was in the yellow arc during departure and it stayed in the yellow arc during the flight. The pilot continued the flight although suitable airports were available for precautionary landings. After about 30 to 45 minutes of flight, the prop started surging and the oil pressure went 'way down.' After about a minute, the engine started knocking and quit. The pilot executed a forced landing. After the accident, oil was all over the top of the engine, the oil cap was on tight, and about 4 quarts of oil still showed on the oil dipstick. The engine inspection revealed a hole in the crankcase above the number 2 and 4 cylinders. The number 2, 3, and 5 connecting rod bearings were burned with signs of meltdown. The number 4 connecting rod and bearing had separated from the crankshaft and exhibited heat damage and failure. The oil passages were checked and no obstructions were found. The oil cooler was checked and fluids flowed through the cooler.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.