# Accident 19961202036999A: Piper PA46350P, Myerstown, PA, December 2, 1996 - Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported - Date: December 2, 1996, 15:21 local time - Place: Myerstown, PA - Airport: Decks Airport - Damage: Substantial damage - Phase of flight: Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise - Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91) - Location: 40.3703° N, 76.3004° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.3703&lon=-76.3004&mi=10 - Aircraft: N394PM, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N394PM-1997-02-06) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry model: Piper PA 46-350P (registry code 7104620, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-46-350p) (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA46350P - Reported engine: LYC TIO540AE2A - Fatal injuries: 0 - Pilot flight hours: 1,924 total, 295 in this make and model, 64 in the last 90 days - NTSB investigation: [NTSB NYC97LA024](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC97LA024) (OpenAirDocs) - FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/) - Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19961202036999A ## Narrative As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^. AIRCRAFT LOST OIL PRESSURE AND MADE EMERGENCY LANDING IN A FIELD. (.4) DURING THE CLIMB AFTER TAKEOFF, BETWEEN 3,500 AND 4,000 FEET, THE PILOT NOTICED THE ENGINE OIL PRESSURE DECREASING AND THE OIL TEMPERATURE INCREASING.THE PILOT ADVISED THE CONTROLLER THAT HE WAS EXPERIENCING A PROBLEM, AND HE WAS PROVIDED RADAR VECTORS TO THE NEAREST AIRPORT. DURING VECTORS, THE ENGINE FAILED, AND OIL COVERED THE WINDSHIELD AND PILOT'S SIDE WINDOW. UNABLE TO SEE THE AIRPORT, THE PILOT COMPLETED A FORCED LANDING TO AN OPEN FIELD, WHERE THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED THE GROUND. THE ENGINE HAD ACCUMULATED ABOUT 440 HRS OF FLIGHT TIME, SINCE IT WAS LAST OVERHAULED (BY THE MANUFACTURER). INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT REMANUFACTURED CONNECTING RODS HAD BEEN INSTALLED. EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED FOUR OF THE SIX CONNECTING ROD BEARINGS HAD MELTED AT THE CRANKSHAFT, AND FATIGUE CRACKS WERE FOUND ON THE NUMBER FOUR CONNECTING ROD AND END CAP. WHEN THE CONNECTING ROD END CAP RETAINING NUTS WERE REMOVED, RINGS OF MODERATE WEAR AND FRETTING WERE FOUND IN THE NUT RECESSES WHERE THE NUTS CONTACTED THE RODS. (.4)DURING THE CLIMB AFTER TAKEOFF, BETWEEN 3,500 AND 4,000 FEET, THE PILOT NOTICED THE ENGINE OILAIRCRAFT LOST OIL PRESSURE AND MADE EMERGENCY LANDING IN A FIELD. (.4) DURING THE CLIMB AFTER TAKEOFF, BETWEEN 3,500 AND 4,000 FEET, THE PILOT NOTICED THE ENGINE OIL PRESSURE DECREASING AND THE OIL TEMPERATURE INCREASING.THE PILOT ADVISED THE CONTROLLER THAT HE WAS EXPERIENCING A PROBLEM, AND HE WAS PROVIDED RADAR VECTORS TO THE NEAREST AIRPORT. DURING VECTORS, THE ENGINE FAILED, AND OIL COVERED THE WINDSHIELD AND PILOT'S SIDE WINDOW. UNABLE TO SEE THE AIRPORT, THE PILOT COMPLETED A FORCED LANDING TO AN OPEN FIELD, WHERE THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED THE GROUND. THE ENGINE HAD ACCUMULATED ABOUT 440 HRS OF FLIGHT TIME, SINCE IT WAS LAST OVERHAULED (BY THE MANUFACTURER). INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT REMANUFACTURED CONNECTING RODS HAD BEEN INSTALLED. EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED FOUR OF THE SIX CONNECTING ROD BEARINGS HAD MELTED AT THE CRANKSHAFT, AND FATIGUE CRACKS WERE FOUND ON THE NUMBER FOUR CONNECTING ROD AND END CAP. WHEN THE CONNECTING ROD END CAP RETAINING NUTS WERE REMOVED, RINGS OF MODERATE WEAR AND FRETTING WERE FOUND IN THE NUT RECESSES WHERE THE NUTS CONTACTED THE RODS. TEMPERATURE INCREASING. THE PILOT ADVISED THE CONTROLLER THAT HE WAS EXPERIENCING A PROBLEM, AND HE WAS PROVIDED RADAR VECTORS TO THE NEAREST AIRPORT. DURING VECTORS, THE ENGINE FAILED, AND OIL COVERED THE WINDSHIELD AND PILOT'S SIDE WINDOW. UNABLE TO SEE THE AIRPORT, THE PILOT COMPLETED A FORCED LANDING TO AN OPEN FIELD, WHERE THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED THE GROUND. THE ENGINE HAD ACCUMULATED ABOUT 440 HRS OF FLIGHT TIME, SINCE IT WAS LAST OVERHAULED (BY THE MANUFACTURER). INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT REMANUFACTURED CONNECTING RODS HAD BEEN INSTALLED. EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED FOUR OF THE SIX CONNECTING ROD BEARINGS HAD MELTED AT THE CRANKSHAFT, AND FATIGUE CRACKS WERE FOUND ON THE NUMBER FOUR CONNECTING ROD AND END CAP. WHEN THE CONNECTING ROD END CAP RETAINING NUTS WERE REMOVED, RINGS OF MODERATE WEAR AND FRETTING WERE FOUND IN THE NUT RECESSES WHERE THE NUTS CONTACTED THE RODS. ## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1) From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. - [NTSB NYC97LA024](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC97LA024), Dec 2, 1996: Piper PA-46-350P (N394PM), Myerstown, PA, substantial damage. Probable cause: fatigue failure of the connecting rod to crankshaft attachments, due to inadequate overhaul of the engine by the manufacturer, which resulted in a loss of engine power and a forced landing. Factors… ## Other reports on N394PM (1) Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date. - [Incident 19950824033899I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950824033899I), Aug 24, 1995: Piper PA46350P (N394PM), Dillon, SC, Minor damage. Engine siezed at FL170. Landed dead stick at dlc. Metal in oil, oil filter and screen. To be examined. From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft 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. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.