Piper PA 28-180 N5196L

Summary

On 2 October 2016 at about 20:20 local time, a Piper PA 28-180 registered N5196L, operated by Coyote Flight, was involved in an accident near Clarendon, Texas, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

2 October 2016 at 20:20

Classification

Accident

Location

Clarendon, Texas, United States

Coordinates

34.9494, -100.8781

Aircraft

Piper PA 28-180

Registration

N5196L

Category

Airplane

Year built

1967

Engines

1

Operator

Coyote Flight

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Amarillo → Childress

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN17LA010

1 person had minor injuries.

The failure of a cylinder piston pin, which resulted in an obstructed oil inlet screen, reduced the amount of oil available to the engine, and led to the subsequent loss of engine power. Contributing to the accident was the failure of the nonmechanic, who had recently changed the oil and oil filter, to recognize that metal in the filter was indicative of a problem.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The student pilot was conducting a cross-country personal flight. The student pilot reported that, while in cruise flight, the single-engine airplane lost power. He then performed a forced landing to a field, during which the wings and firewall were damaged. Examination of the engine revealed damage consistent with lubrication distress. Further, a cylinder piston pin was found broken, and metal was found in the oil pickup screen and in the oil filter, which had recently been changed. It is likely that the degraded piston pin was the source of the metal in the oil, which clogged the oil inlet screen and reduced the amount of oil available to the engine and resulted in the loss of engine power. A nonmechanic had performed preventative maintenance and changed the oil and oil filter shortly before the accident. He reported that he noticed the metal in the filter but did not consider it to be an indication of a problem.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.