# Accident 19980505008419A: Piper PA38112, Omaha, NE, May 5, 1998

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 5, 1998, 17:34 local time
- Place: Omaha, NE
- Airport: Offutt Afb
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Forced/Precautionary Landing
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 41.1093° N, 95.9000° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.1093&lon=-95.9000&mi=10
- Aircraft: N24435, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N24435-1999-07-28) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-38-112 (registry code 7103812, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-38-112) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA38112
- Reported engine: LYC O235L2C
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 108 total, 56 in this make and model, 19 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CHI98LA140](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI98LA140) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980505008419A

## Narrative

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

IMPACTED TERRAIN WHEN ENGINE QUIT ON TAKEOFF. (.4)A TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER WAS EXPERIENCED DURING AN INITIAL TAKEOFF CLIMB.  A FORCED LANDING WAS MADE ON A LEVEE DURING WHICH TIME THE AIRPLANE WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED.  THE INVESTIGATION REVEALED A FATIGUE FAILURE OF THE CRANKSHAFT AT THE #3 MAIN BEARING JOURNAL ON THE LYCOMING O-235-L2C ENGINE.  THE NATURE OF THE FAILURE INDICATED THE #3 BEARING SPUN DUE TO UNDETERMINED REASONS.  THE AIRPLANE HAD BEEN INVOLVED IN TWO PROPELLER STRIKE INCIDENTS.  THE ENGINE WAS NOT OVERHAULED AFTER EITHER OF THESE INCIDENTS. LYCOMING SERVICE LETTER L163C RECOMMENDS REMOVAL, DISASSEMBLY AND INSPECTION OF THE ENGINE AFTER PROPELLER STRIKES.                                    (-23)ON MAY 5, 1998, APPROXIAMTELY 1706 CDT, PIPER PA-38-112, N24435, DEPARTED OFFUTT AFB, NEBRASKA, FOR OPERATION UNDER FAR PART 91.  WHILE PASSING THROUGH 1700' MSL, THE PIC EXPERIENCED A SUDDEN AND COMPLETE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER.  FOLLOWING SEVERAL UNSUCCESSFUL ATTEMPTS TO RESTART THE ENGINE, THE AIRCRAFT WAS FORCED TO LAND IN A FIELD APPROXIAMTELY 2.5 MILES NORTHWEST OF OFFUTT AFB.  THE AIRCRAFT, OWNED AND OPERATED BY THE OFFUTT AERO CLUB, EXP                             RIENCED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE FUSELAGE AND WING ASSEMBLIES. NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED BY THE PIC AND SINGLE PASSENGER.  SUBSEQUENT INVESTIGATION DISCLOSED A FAILURE OF THE CENTER MAIN BEARING JOURNAL OF THE LYCOMING O-235-L2C CRANKSHAFT ASSEMBLY, P/N LW-12697.

## 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 CHI98LA140](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI98LA140), May 5, 1998: Piper PA-38-112 (N24435), Omaha, NE, substantial damage. Probable cause: The fatigue failure of the crankshaft which resulted from a spun bearing and the low altitude at which the loss of engine power occurred. A factor in the accident was the embankment on which the…

## Other reports on N24435 (2)

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

- [Incident 19971002032829I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19971002032829I), Oct 2, 1997: Piper PA38112 (N24435), Omaha, NE, Minor damage. Narrative: on October 2, 1997, while approaching Offutt Afb for a landing; student pilot, ann m. dush, applied full flaps while on the base leg to landing.…
- [Incident 19930503015819I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930503015819I), May 3, 1993: Piper PA38112 (N24435), Murray, NE, Minor damage. Instructor applied full nose up elevator and applied power. Became airborne prematurely. Bounced. Stopped in field.

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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