Piper PA-28-180 N2182T

Summary

On 29 March 2006 at about 13:40 local time, a Piper PA-28-180 registered N2182T was involved in an accident near Bunnell, Florida, 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

29 March 2006 at 13:40

Classification

Accident

Location

Bunnell, Florida, United States

Nearest airport

Flagler County (X47)

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

Piper PA-28-180

Registration

N2182T

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Bunnell → Ormond Beach

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

MIA06LA073

Nobody was injured.

The failure of the pilot to perform a preflight inspection of the airplane resulting in departure with an inadequate oil supply, subsequent engine failure due to oil starvation, and damage to the airplane during a forced landing. Contributing to the accident was the improper installation of the engine-driven vacuum pump by a mechanic.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot stated that earlier that morning he flew to the Flagler County Airport, landed, and secured the engine. He then elected to return to the departure airport. He did not perform a preflight inspection of the airplane, and after starting the engine he taxied to and departed from runway 29. During the initial climb at approximately 1,500 feet he noted smoke coming from the engine compartment and the engine experienced a partial loss of power. He turned to return to the airport and the engine seized. He performed a forced landing on a dirt road and during the landing roll ran off the road and collided with a tree. Post accident examination of the engine by an FAA airworthiness inspector revealed an oil film inside the engine cowling and also on the right side of the fuselage from the engine cowling to midspan of the right wing. Additionally, damage to one of the cylinders was noted. The engine driven vacuum pump was found to have not been installed correctly with incorrect gasket material which was baffle gasket material and that the nuts that hold and seal the vacuum pump on were not torqued to proper specs and/or were missing all together and that there was oil on the rubber gaskets. The owner/pilot admitted to having worked along side with the IA to install the engine driven vacuum pump. The owner/pilot also stated that after they were finished installing the pump, he asked the IA if they had installed it correctly because it was sticking out more then he was used to. The IA reported having supervised the owner/pilot who did the work, then checked what he had done and signed it off. The engine had only 8 hours and was within a month of being overhauled at the time of the accident.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.