Piper PA-32RT-300 N2200J
20 October 1997 · Scottsville, Virginia, United States · No injuries
Summary
On 20 October 1997 at about 14:46 local time, a Piper PA-32RT-300 registered N2200J, operated by Blue Ridge Air, was involved in an accident near Scottsville, Virginia, United States. 2 people were 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.
The record
- Date
- at 14:46
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Scottsville, Virginia, United States
- Coordinates
- 37.7901, -78.4910
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32RT-300
- Registration
- N2200J
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Blue Ridge Air
- Operating rule
- Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
- Purpose of flight
- Unknown
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Charlottesville → Southern Pines
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- NYC98LA015
People
Nobody was injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
Probable cause
improper engine operation by undetermined person(s) that initiated gauling on the connecting rod, and led to its subsequent failure.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
The pilot leveled off at his cruise altitude of 6,500 feet, the engine started to vibrate, and oil was observed leaking from the engine cowling. The vibration and oil flow increased in intensity, and the pilot shut the engine off, and performed a forced landing to a field. During the ground roll, the airplane struck a berm about 2 feet high. Examination of the engine revealed the number 2 connecting rod had failed between the wrist pin hole and crankshaft yoke. Metallurgical examination of the fracture found fatigue, and evidence of gauling in the area of the connecting rod bolt holes. Gauling was also found on the number 6 connecting rod bolt holes. According engine manufacturer, gauling could occur from high loading such as produced during overspeed or excessive manifold pressure operation. The operator reported the airplane was flown by company pilots on charter flights, and was also a rental airplane.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Piper PA-32RT accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26 Apr 1997 | Piper PA-32RT-300T | Rye, Colorado, United States | - | Fatal | 3 |
| 13 Sep 1997 | Piper PA-32RT-300 | Oxford, North Carolina, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 23 Nov 1997 | Piper PA-32RT-300T | Midlothian, Texas, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 24 Jan 1998 | Piper PA-32RT-300 | Taos, New Mexico, United States | Flight Training Center | No injuries | - |
| 17 May 1996 | Piper PA-32RT-300T | Kernville, California, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 14 Oct 1998 | Piper PA-32RT | Vidalia, Georgia, United States | - | No injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13 Apr 1997 | I C A Brasov IS-28B2 | Waynesboro, Virginia, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 10 May 1997 | North American B-25J | Midland, Virginia, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 5 Jun 1997 | North American NAVION | Fredericksburg, Virginia, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 3 Jan 1997 | Aerostar 601P | Chesapeake, Virginia, United States | Christopher Pavlides | Fatal | 4 |
| 10 Jun 1997 | Luscombe LL-8-E | Charlottesville, Virginia, United States | Andrew E. Guthrow | No injuries | - |
| 16 Jun 1997 | Goodwin RANS S-4 | Cedar Bluff, Virginia, United States | - | Fatal | 1 |