Piper PA-28-180 N8424W

Summary

On 12 August 2001 at about 20:30 local time, a Piper PA-28-180 registered N8424W was involved in an accident near Union, Illinois, United States. 4 people were on board and one 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

12 August 2001 at 20:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Union, Illinois, United States

Coordinates

42.2291, -88.5395

Aircraft

Piper PA-28-180

Registration

N8424W

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Lake in Hills → Lake in Hills

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CHI01LA274

1 person had minor injuries.

The total failure of the crankshaft as a result of fatigue and the unsuitable terrain encountered during the forced landing. Factors associated with the accident were the soft terrain on which the forced landing was made and the subsequent gear collapse.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The airplane experienced a total gear collapse during a forced landing following an inflight separation of the propeller. The pilot reported that approximately 45 minutes after takeoff, while in cruise flight at 4,000 feet msl, the crankshaft broke and the propeller separated from the engine. He reported that the windscreen was sprayed with oil and the engine seized. He reported that he proceeded to make a forced landing at a sod farm. The pilot reported the field was being prepared for planting and the recently tilled soil was very soft. Upon touching down, the landing gear stuck in the ground and it separated from the airplane. The pilot reported that the airplane slid approximately 50 feet during which time the right wing twisted. Examination of the crankshaft revealed a fatigue crack that initiated from an oil transfer tube hole in the No. 1 main bearing journal. The airplane was involved in a propeller strike in March 1999. After the propeller strike, the engine was removed for a teardown inspection at which time the crankshaft was replaced with one that had been overhauled.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.