Piper PA-28-140 N44541

Summary

On 5 June 2003 at about 21:45 local time, a Piper PA-28-140 registered N44541 was involved in an accident near Hamilton, Alabama, 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

5 June 2003 at 21:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Hamilton, Alabama, United States

Coordinates

33.3889, -88.0006

Aircraft

Piper PA-28-140

Registration

N44541

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Reform → Muscle Shoals

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ATL03LA103

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's inadequate preflight inspection by his failure to ensure adequate oil supply, which resulted in oil exhaustion and the failure of the connecting rod cap.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

According to the pilot, about 45 minutes into the flight, while flying at an altitude of 3000 feet, the engine lost power. Efforts by the pilot to restore full engine power were unsuccessful. The pilot selected a nearby pasture for an emergency landing. The airplane collided with trees as the pilot maneuvered for the emergency landing. Examination of the engine revealed, the # 2 cylinder rod cap was broken, an no oil was found in the engine and the oil sump was dry. Review of the Cherokee 140 owner's handbook, section VI, Oil Requirements, states: The capacity of the O-320 series engine is 8 quarts, and the minimum safe quantity is 2 quarts. Section III, Preflight; states: 5c, (Check for obvious fuel or oil leaks.) 5d, (Check oil level, 8 quarts maximum.) The pilot did not report finding any problems with the airplane during his preflight.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.