# Accident 20001121024829A: Piper PA32RT300, Wewahitchka, FL, November 21, 2000

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: November 21, 2000, 09:30 local time
- Place: Wewahitchka, FL
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 30.1667° N, 85.2333° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.1667&lon=-85.2333&mi=10
- Aircraft: N9658C, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9658C-2013-08-12) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-32RT-300 (registry code 7103215, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32rt-300) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming IO-540 series (registry code 41530, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA32RT300
- Reported engine: LYC IO540K1G5D
- People aboard: 3
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 10,500 total, 400 in this make and model, 125 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB MIA01LA032](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA01LA032) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20001121024829A

## Narrative

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

(-23) A PIPER PA-32RT-300, OWNED BY GRADY AND FRANCIS INC., LOST ENGINE POWER AND WAS FORCED TO LAND IN ROUGH TERRAIN NEAR WEWAHITCHKA, FLORIDA. (.4) ON NOVEMBER 21, 2000, ABOUT 0930 CENTRAL STANDARD TIME, A PIPER PA-32RT-300, N9658C, OWNED BY GRADY AND FRANCIS INC., LOST ENGINE POWER AND WAS FORCED TO LAND IN ROUGH TERRAIN NEAR WEWAHITCHKA, FLORIDA. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME, AND AN IFR FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED FOR THE 14 CFR PART 91 PERSONAL FLIGHT. THE AIRPLANE WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED. THE AIRLINE TRANSPORT-RATED PILOT AND TWO PASSENGERS REPORTED NO INJURIES. THE FLIGHT DEPARTED FROM ORLANDO EXECUTIVE AIRPORT, FLORIDA, AT AN UNKNOWN TIME, EN ROUTE TO PANAMA CITY, FLORIDA. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT HE SMELLED SOMETHING, AND WHEN HE CHECKED THE INSTRUMENTS HE NOTICED THAT THE OIL PRESSURE HAD DECREASED. HE FELT THAT HE COULD NOT MAKE AN ON AIRPORT LANDING SO HE DECIDED TO LAND IN ROUGH TERRAIN. AT TOUCHDOWN, THE LANDING GEAR TORE OFF, CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE WINGS. EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED NO VISIBLE OIL ON TOP OF THE ENGINE, BUT OIL WAS OBSERVED AT THE LOWER PORTION OF THE FIREWALL. THE ENGINE WAS TORNDOWN AND EXAMINED AT ATLANTA AIR SALVAGE,     GRIFFIN, GEORGE, UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF PHIL POWER, SENIOR AIR SAFETY INVESTIGATOR, ATLANTA, GEORGIA, ON FEBRUARY 1, 2001. THE EXAMINATION REVEALED THAT THE NUMBER 5 CYLINDER CONNECTING ROD HAD SEPARATED AT THE ROD CAP. THE CRANKCASE HAD A 3 INCHES BY 1 1/2 INCH HOLE IN THE BOTTOM OF THE CASE BETWEEN THE CRANKSHAFT AND THE OIL SUMP AT THE NUMBER 5 LOCATION OF THE CRANKSHAFT. PIECES OF THE NUMBER 5 CONNECTING ROD CAP,ROD CAP BOLTS, AND NUTS WERERECOVERED FRAGMENTED.

## 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 MIA01LA032](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA01LA032), Nov 21, 2000: Piper PA-32RT-300 (N9658C), Wewahitchka, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: a loss of engine power due to the number 5 cylinder connecting rod separating at the rod cap, resulting in a forced landing and subsequent impact with rough uneven terrain.

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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