Piper PA-32R-300 N8892E

Summary

On 13 January 2019 at about 21:46 local time, a Piper PA-32R-300 registered N8892E was involved in an accident near Adrian, Michigan, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 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

13 January 2019 at 21:46

Classification

Accident

Location

Adrian, Michigan, United States

Nearest airport

Lenawee County Airport (ADG)

Coordinates

41.8678, -84.0772

Aircraft

Piper PA-32R-300

Registration

N8892E

Category

Airplane

Year built

1976

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Adrian → Adrian

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN19LA066

2 people had minor injuries.

The airframe and powerplant mechanic's lack of experience in the overhaul of the engine model and the improper torque of the crankshaft gear bolt, which resulted in fatigue failure of the bolt and a total loss of engine power during an approach for landing.  

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot was performing a flight with an inspection authorization (IA) rated mechanic, who had performed a recent annual inspection of the airplane. During approach to the airport, the engine lost total power. The airplane impacted a fence and terrain short of the runway and sustained substantial damage. Postaccident examination of the engine revealed that the crankshaft gear bolt fractured. Metallurgical examination of the bolt revealed features consistent with fatigue cracking that initiated at multiple sites near the bottom of a thread root. These smaller cracks coalesced and propagated inward through more than half the crack section of the bolt. The bolt began to cycle under reverse bending, which initiated fatigue cracking at multiple sites along the thread root on the opposite side. The airframe and powerplant (A&P) mechanic who performed a recent overhaul of the engine stated that the engine was the first of the "big" Lycoming engines that he had overhauled. The A&P mechanic stated that he did not like using the Lycoming manuals because they were hard to follow. He mentioned several times that he had contacted Lycoming to request assistance, and they worked with him in providing the necessary documentation needed for the work he was doing. The A&P mechanic stated that he did not torque the crankshaft gear bolt to the engine manufacturer's specifications. The engine overhaul was signed off by the A&P mechanic, and he stated that the IA mechanic just removed and reinstalled the engine onto the airplane. Regulatory requirements state a certificated mechanic may not supervise the maintenance, preventive maintenance, or alteration of, or approve and return to service, any aircraft or appliance, or part thereof, for which he is rated unless he has satisfactorily performed the work concerned at an earlier date.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.