Piper PA32-R-301T N8355L

Summary

On 17 February 2001 at about 18:35 local time, a Piper PA32-R-301T registered N8355L, operated by Hest Aviation, was involved in an accident near Haslet, Texas, United States. 4 people were on board and one was seriously injured, 3 had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

17 February 2001 at 18:35

Classification

Accident

Location

Haslet, Texas, United States

Nearest airport

Fort Worth Alliance (AFW)

Coordinates

32.9498, -97.3310

Aircraft

Piper PA32-R-301T

Registration

N8355L

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Hest Aviation

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Killeen → Haslet

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

FTW01LA068

1 person was seriously injured.

the improper installation of the oil filter bypass valve by an unknown person, which resulted in the loss of engine oil and subsequent loss of total power during a normal descent. A contributing factor to the accident was the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The airplane was approximately 40 minutes into the flight and 4 miles south of the destination airport in a normal descent when the propeller increased to maximum RPM. Shortly thereafter, the oil pressure light illuminated, and the pilot noticed the oil pressure gauge was indicating zero. Subsequently, the engine lost power, and the pilot elected to land in a field approximately 2 miles south of the runway threshold. The airplane touched down on soft ground, separating its landing gear. A post-accident examination of the engine revealed that there was no oil remaining in the engine, the oil filter internal element was collapsed inward, the oil filter converter plate gasket was found separated from the plate and broken in half, and the oil filter bypass valve was found installed improperly. The collapsed oil filter element and blown converter plate gasket are indicative of a cold weather and/or a high RPM start. With cold oil, the oil pressure became excessive due to the faulty bypass valve resulting in collapse of the filter and failure of the oil filter converter plate gasket.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.