Piper PA-18-135 N3257B

Summary

On 6 November 2007 at about 17:53 local time, a Piper PA-18-135 registered N3257B, operated by Van Wagner Aerial Media, was involved in an accident near Durbin, West Virginia, 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

6 November 2007 at 17:53

Classification

Accident

Location

Durbin, West Virginia, United States

Coordinates

38.5708, -79.9356

Aircraft

Piper PA-18-135

Registration

N3257B

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Van Wagner Aerial Media

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Pittsburgh → Richmond

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

NYC08LA033

Nobody was injured.

The loss of engine power while in cruise flight due to the partially separated crankshaft oil seal.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot noticed an oil leak on the day prior to the accident, and asked a mechanic to examine the airplane, prior to his departure. The mechanic did not observe any significant indications of an oil leak and the pilot decided to depart for another airport where a company mechanic could further examine the engine. While en route to the destination airport, at an altitude of 5,000 feet, the pilot began to smell oil and observed smoke emanating from the engine. Shortly after, he heard an "explosion" and observed a "chunk of oil" blow out of the engine and cover the windshield. The oil pressure gauge continually decreased and the pilot looked for a place to perform a forced landing. He landed on a dirt road, during which the right wing struck a tree and was substantially damaged. Examination of the engine revealed the engine crankshaft oil seal was partially dislodged, and protruding from the front of the engine case. The most recent condition inspection was completed 2 months prior to the accident, with no anomalies noted. The airplane flew 43 hours since the inspection.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.