Piper PA28 N5932U

Summary

On 21 October 2020 at about 01:20 local time, a Piper PA28 registered N5932U was involved in an accident near Buda, 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

21 October 2020 at 01:20

Classification

Accident

Location

Buda, Texas, United States

Coordinates

30.0777, -97.9656

Aircraft

Piper PA28

Registration

N5932U

Category

Airplane

Year built

1971

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Bulverde → Austin

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Night

NTSB number

CEN21LA031

Nobody was injured.

An improperly torqued oil line fitting during an engine overhaul, which resulted in oil exhaustion and 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

During a night training flight, the flight instructor and student pilot experienced a total loss of engine power and executed a forced landing onto rough terrain, which damaged the airplane’s right-wing spar. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed a nearly empty oil reservoir and oil residue on the underside of the fuselage and elevator, with significant thermal damage to the engine. The examination also found a disconnected oil line fitting. No material or structural anomalies were noted with the oil line or fitting. The engine had been recently overhauled, and the two mechanics who performed the overhaul stated it was very possible that they did not properly torque the oil line fitting. Following the accident, the overhaul facility implemented a requirement to torque seal applicable components to help ensure compliance with torque specifications.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.