# Accident 19970514012849A: Piper PA24180, Yakkama City, FL, May 14, 1997

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 14, 1997, 10:00 local time
- Place: Yakkama City, FL
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 27.4893° N, 81.4506° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.4893&lon=-81.4506&mi=10
- Aircraft: N7931P, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7931P-2013-05-09) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-24 (registry code 7102402, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-24) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming O&VO-360 series (registry code 41514, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA24180
- Reported engine: LYC O360A1A
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 24,000 total, 400 in this make and model, 300 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB MIA97LA163](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA97LA163) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970514012849A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(-23) MAY 14, 1997, DURING A TELEPHONE INTERVIEW, THE PILOT RECOLLECTED THE EVENT IN QUESTION. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE HEARD A METALLIC TICKING NOISE AND NOTICED THAT THE OIL PRESSURE AND OIL TEMPERATURE WERE NORMAL WHEN SUDDENLY THE ENGINE BEGAN TO BREAK APART.  AT THAT MOMENT THE ENGINE STOPPED.  THE PILOT CHOSE TO MAKE A FORCED LANDING ON AN OPEN FIELD NEAR MYAKKA CITY, FLORIDA.  MAY 22, 1997, ENGINE TEAR DOWN ACCOMPLISHED BY AVIATION CONSULTANT SERVICES, REVEALED THE INSTALLATION OF ROD BOLTS DID NOT COMPLY WITH AD 95-07-01.  ON JULY 7, 1997, FURTHER INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT AD 95-07-01, DID NOT APPLY TO THE ENGINE IN QUESTION.  ILLUSTRATED PARTS BREAK DOWN OF THE LYCOMING SERVICE MANUAL SHOWED THAT THE ROD BOLTS FOR THAT PARTICULAR ENGINE LYCOMING 0-360-A1D S/N 24-3165 WERE CORRECT BOLTS.  ON JULY 27, 1997, INSPECTION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED THAT PART NUMBERS ON 2 OF THE CONNECTING RODS DID NOT COMPLY WITH LYCOMING SERVICE BULLETIN NO. 1359.           (.4)THE FLIGHT WAS ABOUT 25 MILES EAST OF THE DESTINATION AIRPORT WHEN THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE 'HEARD MAYBE 2 SECONDS OF TICKING THEN COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE. HE SPENT ABOUT 10 TO 15 SECONDS TRYING TO STOP THE ENGINE BECAU SE HE THOUGHT THE ENGINE WOULD 'TEAR ITSELF OFF THE AIRCRAFT.' THE PILOT CHOSE TO MAKE A FORCED LANDING IN A FIELD. ONE WING SEPARATED FROM THE AIRPLANE WHEN IT COLLIDED WITH A TREE ON THE APPROACH, AND THE AIRPLANE TRAVELED ABOUT 150 FEET BEFORE IT CAME TO A STOP. AN ENGINE TEARDOWN WAS PERFORMED UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF THE FAA, AND REVEALED THAT ALL 4 CONNECTING ROD CAPS HAD COME APART FROM THEIR RODS. THE ROD BOLT NUTS WERE FOUND LYING ON THE BOTTOM OF THE OIL PAN. THE INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT A MECHANIC HAD INSTALLED TWO (2) MODIFIED ROD CAPS WITHOUT THE CONNECTING ROD ASSEMBLIES, AND WITHOUT INSPECTING OR SERVICING PRIOR TO INSTALLATION ON THE ENGINE.

## 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 MIA97LA163](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA97LA163), May 14, 1997: Piper PA-24-180 (N7931P), Yakkama City, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: a complete loss of engine power due to the separation of the connecting rod bolts, resulting in a forced landing and impact with a tree. A factor in this accident was improper installation of the rod…

## Other reports on N7931P (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Accident 19960307003699A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960307003699A), Mar 7, 1996: Piper PA24 (N7931P), Livingston, TN, Substantial damage. Encountered icing, lost radio contact. Approach issued through comair aircraft, stuck gear, landed short of runway.

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.

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