Piper PA 28R-201T N44903

Summary

On 7 September 2015 at about 20:30 local time, a Piper PA 28R-201T registered N44903 was involved in an accident near Atmore, Alabama, 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

7 September 2015 at 20:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Atmore, Alabama, United States

Coordinates

31.0161, -87.4467

Aircraft

Piper PA 28R-201T

Registration

N44903

Category

Airplane

Year built

1977

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Foley → Tuscaloosa

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA15LA345

Nobody was injured.

A total loss of engine power due to oil starvation caused by insufficiently torqued cylinder through bolt nuts, which caused bearings to shift and led to the subsequent failure of the No. 3 connecting rod.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The private pilot and the passenger departed on a cross-country flight. The pilot stated that the airplane was at an altitude of 4,500 ft mean sea level when the engine lost oil pressure, followed by a total loss of engine power. The pilot landed the airplane on a two-lane country road. During the landing roll, the airplane's right wing struck mailboxes, which caused substantial damage to the right wing. Examination of the engine revealed the torque values for the No. 2 cylinder upper through bolt nuts, both No. 3 cylinder through bolt nuts, and the No. 5 cylinder through bolt nuts were below factory specifications for breakaway torque. Further examination revealed that the No. 3 connecting rod was separated from the crankshaft, the No. 2 main bearings had shifted, and there were signs of oil starvation. The likely insufficiently torqued nuts allowed the No. 2 bearings to shift and rotate, which resulted in oil starvation to the corresponding connecting rods and main bearings and ultimately led to the failure of the No. 3 connecting rod, ancillary damage to other internal components of the engine, and a total loss of engine power. Review of maintenance records revealed that the No 3. cylinder had been removed and reinstalled about 1 year before the accident. The engine's most recent annual inspection was completed about 9 months before the accident. There were no irregularities noted, and all airworthiness directives were complied with as noted by the mechanic. The investigation could not determine whether the loosening of the nut torque was due to improper installation or another unrelated issue.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.