Piper PA-28R-200 N76SA

Summary

On 26 June 2002 at about 18:30 local time, a Piper PA-28R-200 registered N76SA, operated by J.S. Aviation DBA, was involved in an accident near Steward, Illinois, 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

26 June 2002 at 18:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Steward, Illinois, United States

Coordinates

41.8404, -89.0196

Aircraft

Piper PA-28R-200

Registration

N76SA

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

J.S. Aviation DBA

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Vaparaiso → Chamberlain

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CHI02FA177

Nobody was injured.

A loss of engine power due to the fatigue failure of several number three cylinder through bolts and case studs, which resulted in the separation of the number three engine cylinder. A factor contributing to the accident was the rough terrain.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The airplane sustained substantial damage during a forced landing to a soybean field. The pilot reported that while in cruise flight the engine shuttered and developed serious vibration. The pilot stated that "at 3,500 feet engine ejected right rear cylinder head. Cowling stayed hinged on left. Oil spray on windshield and fire on lower right of firewall." The pilot reported that he shut down the engine and "tried to make Staton Airport but had [to perform a] forced landing in bean field. Damaged right wing in forced landing." Inspection of the engine verified that the number three cylinder had separated during flight. The cylinder was never located and/or recovered. The number three piston and connecting rod had separated from the crankshaft and were located at the bottom of the engine compartment. All of the number three cylinder through bolts and case studs were fractured. Several of the through bolts and studs had fracture features that were consistent with fatigue. The remaining bolts and studs had fracture features that were consistent with overload.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.