19960730022789A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Piper J3C-65 · Camp Lake, WI · July 30, 1996

Date: July 30, 1996 · 19:21 local
Place: Camp Lake, WI
Airport: Camp Lake Airport
Phase of flight: Forced/Precautionary Landing
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N3445K
NTSB investigation: NTSBCHI96LA262
Reported as: Piper J3C65
Reported engine: Continental A658
Fatal injuries: 0
Pilot’s flight hours: 788 total360 in this make and model16 in the last 90 days

N3445KRegistered now · Piper J3C-65S/N 22136 · Built 1946 Airframe modelPiper J3C-65 Engine modelContinental A&C65 seriesReciprocating

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

(.4)The pilot reported that the number two cylinder and piston had just been replaced on the engine. He preflighted the aircraft, then did a twenty minute engine run-up. He then departed for a test flight around the airport. During the climb, the engine began to 'slow down,' so the pilot started a turn back to the airport. While he was in the turn, the engine seized. The pilot reported that due to lack of altitude, he was unable to reach a clear area, and he was forced to land in trees. Examination of the engine revealed that the number two piston had seized in the cylinder. The number 2 cylinder's bore was reported to be 0.007 inch over standard, and the piston was 0.015 inch oversize. The piston was galled as a result of the engine seizure. The cylinder and piston, which were used for repair, were used parts. The mechanic who had installed the parts reported that adequate clearances had existed. (-23) see narrative #CHI96LA262.

As the FAA filed it

(.4)THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE NUMBER TWO CYLINDER AND PISTON HAD JUST BEEN REPLACED ON THE ENGINE. HE PREFLIGHTED THE AIRCRAFT, THEN DID A TWENTY MINUTE ENGINE RUN-UP. HE THEN DEPARTED FOR A TEST FLIGHT AROUND THE AIRPORT. DURING THE CLIMB, THE ENGINE BEGAN TO 'SLOW DOWN,' SO THE PILOT STARTED A TURN BACK TO THE AIRPORT. WHILE HE WAS IN THE TURN, THE ENGINE SEIZED. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT DUE TO LACK OF ALTITUDE, HE WAS UNABLE TO REACH A CLEAR AREA, AND HE WAS FORCED TO LAND IN TREES. EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED THAT THE NUMBER TWO PISTON HAD SEIZED IN THE CYLINDER. THE NUMBER 2 CYLINDER'S BORE WAS REPORTED TO BE 0.007 INCH OVER STANDARD, AND THE PISTON WAS 0.015 INCH OVERSIZE. THE PISTON WAS GALLED AS A RESULT OF THE ENGINE SEIZURE. THE CYLINDER AND PISTON, WHICH WERE USED FOR REPAIR, WERE USED PARTS. THE MECHANIC WHO HAD INSTALLED THE PARTS REPORTED THAT ADEQUATE CLEARANCES HAD EXISTED. (-23) SEE NARRATIVE #CHI96LA262.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB CHI96LA262Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportCamp Lake, WIseizure of the number 2 piston. Inadequate maintenance was a related factor.Jul 31, 1996 · Substantial damage