Piper PA-46-310P N861DD

Summary

On 13 April 2004 at about 16:30 local time, a Piper PA-46-310P registered N861DD, operated by Timothy Morgan, was involved in an accident near Taylor, Pennsylvania, 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.

Date

13 April 2004 at 16:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Taylor, Pennsylvania, United States

Coordinates

41.3861, -75.6750

Aircraft

Piper PA-46-310P

Registration

N861DD

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Timothy Morgan

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Factoryville → Lancaster

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

IMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

NYC04LA105

Nobody was injured.

The failure of the number 2 connecting rod, after a main bearing shift, which resulted in a catastrophic engine failure.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The airplane was in a climb at 5,500 feet, when the engine began to vibrate and lose power. The pilot observed an increase in oil temperature, and a decrease in oil pressure; which was followed by a total loss of engine power. The pilot performed a forced landing to a field; however, during the landing, the airplane's left wing impacted a tree. Examination of the airplane revealed streaks of oil on the engine cowling, and a 6-inch hole in the top of the engine crankcase, in the vicinity of the number 2 cylinder. Further examination revealed that the number 2 connecting rod was broken into four pieces. The connecting rod journal was black in color and the metal had a "smeared" appearance. Fretting was observed on the mating surfaces of the number 2 main bearing saddles. In addition, the bearing shells had "walked" towards the rear of the engine about 1/4 of an inch. The crankcase through-bolt torques could not be determined. According to a representative of the engine manufacturer, a bearing shift could result in a decrease in oil flow to the journal, and a subsequent catastrophic engine failure. The airplane had been operated for 26 hours, since it's most recent annual inspection, which was performed about a month prior to the accident. The engine had been operated for about 1,700 hours, since it was rebuilt by TCM about 9 years prior to the accident.. The number 2 and 4 cylinders had been replaced about 830 hours prior to the accident.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.