Piper L-18C N3134G

Summary

On 19 December 2012 at about 23:00 local time, a Piper L-18C registered N3134G was involved in an accident near Graham, Texas, 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

19 December 2012 at 23:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Graham, Texas, United States

Nearest airport

Graham Municipal (KRPH)

Coordinates

33.1125, -98.5339

Aircraft

Piper L-18C

Registration

N3134G

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Graham → Graham

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN13LA111

Nobody was injured.

The failure of an engine connecting rod and the subsequent loss of oil pressure, which resulted in a total loss of engine power.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot was returning to the airport when the engine experienced a total loss of power. As the pilot maneuvered to perform a forced landing, the engine seized and the propeller stopped. The airplane landed hard, bounced, and nosed over, coming to rest inverted. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings and rudder. An examination of the engine revealed that a connecting rod failed and broke through the crankcase, which resulted in a loss of oil and the subsequent loss of engine power. The reason for the failure of the connecting rod could not be determined.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.