# Accident 20030111000509A: Piper PA34200, Westlakevillage, CA, January 11, 2003 - Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported - Date: January 11, 2003, 10:23 local time - Place: Westlakevillage, CA - Damage: Destroyed - Phase of flight: Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise - Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91) - Location: 34.1333° N, 118.7167° W: From the FAA - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.1333&lon=-118.7167&mi=10 - Aircraft: N56484, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N56484-2013-09-24) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry model: Piper PA-34-200 (registry code 7103405, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-34-200) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: Lycoming I0360 SER A&C (registry code 41511, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-ser-a-c) (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA34200 - Reported engine: LYC IO360C1E6 - Fatal injuries: 0 - NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX03FA065](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX03FA065) (OpenAirDocs) - FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/) - Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030111000509A ## Narrative As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^. (.19) ON JANUARY 11, 2003, AT 1023 PACIFIC STANDARD TIME, A PIPER PA-34-200, N56484, MADE A FORCED LANDING IN WESTLAKE VILLAGE, CALIFORNIA, FOLLOWING A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. THE AERO CLUB WAS OPERATING THE AIRPLANE UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF 14 CFR PART 91. THE CERTIFIED FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR (CFI) AND THE PRIVATE PILOT UNDERGOING INSTRUCTION SUSTAINED SERIOUS INJURIES; THE AIRPLANE WAS DESTROYED. THE LOCAL INSTRUCTIONAL FLIGHT DEPARTED VAN NUYS (VNY), CALIFORNIA, ABOUT 0945. DAY VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED, AND NO FLIGHT PLAN HAD BEEN FILED. THE CFI TOLD LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS WHO RESPONDED TO THE SCENE THAT THE RIGHT ENGINE "WENT OUT" AND HE TRIED TO LAND IN A SAFE PLACE. THE FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION (FAA) ACCIDENT COORDINATOR OBTAINED FUELLING RECORDS, WHICH INDICATED THAT THE AIRPLANE HAD BEEN FUELED WITH 51.9 GALLONS OF 100 LL AVIATION FUEL AT VNY AT 0935 ON THE MORNING OF THE ACCIDENT. THE SAFETY BOARD INVESTIGATOR-IN-CHARGE (IIC), THE FAA ACCIDENT COORDINATOR, AND INVESTIGATORS FROM NEW PIPER AND TEXTRON LYCOMING EXAMINED THE WRECKAGE AT AIRCRAFT RECOVERY SERVICE, LITTLEROCK, CALIFORNIA, ON JANUARY 15, 2003. THE LEFT ENGINE HAD COMPLETELY SEPARATED FROM THE AIRPLANE DURING THE COLLISION SEQUENCE. THE RIGHT ENGINE SEPARATED EXCEPT FOR WIRES AND CABLES, WHICH RETRIEVERS CUT TO MOVE THE ENGINE. RIGHT ENGINE:INVESTIGATORS SLUNG THE RIGHT ENGINE FROM A HOIST, AND REMOVED THE TOP SPARK PLUGS. NONE OF THE SPARK PLUGS EXHIBITED MECHANICAL DEFORMATION. THE SPARK PLUG ELECTRODES FOR CYLINDERS NUMBER 1 AND 3 WERE GRAY IN COLOR, WHICH CORRESPONDED TO NORMAL OPERATION ACCORDING TO THE CHAMPION AVIATION CHECK-A-PLUG AV-27 CHART. THE SPARK PLUGS FOR CYLINDERS NUMBER 2 AND 4 WERE OILY. THE ENGINE LAY ON ITS LEFT SIDE FOLLOWING RECOVERY. A BORESCOPE INSPECTION REVEALED NO MECHANICAL DEFORMATION ON THE VALVES, CYLINDER WALLS, OR INTERNAL CYLINDER HEAD. THE ENGINE WAS MANUALLY ROTATED USING A TOOL IN AN ACCESSORY DRIVE. IT ROTATED FREELY AND THE VALVES MOVED APPROXIMATELY THE SAME AMOUNT OF LIFT IN FIRING ORDER. THUMB COMPRESSION WAS OBTAINED ON ALL CYLINDERS IN FIRING ORDER. THE VACUUM PUMP DRIVE GEAR REMAINED UNBROKEN, AND THE VACUUM PUMP TURNED FREELY. THE FUEL PUMP PLUNGER MOVED UP AND DOWN, AND THE GEARS IN THE ACCESSORY CASE TURNED FREELY. THE MAGNETOS WERE MANUALLY ROTATED. THE LEFT MAGNETO PRODUCED SPARK AT ALL POSTS. THE RIGHT MAGNETO SUSTAINEDMECHANICAL DAMAGE AND COULD NOT BE TESTED. LEFT ENGINE: INVESTIGATORS SLUNG THE LEFT ENGINE FROM A HOIST, AND REMOVED THE TOP SPARK PLUGS. NONE OF THE SPARK PLUGS EXHIBITED MECHANICAL DEFORMATION. ALL OF THE SPARK PLUG ELECTRODES WERE GRAY IN COLOR, WHICH CORRESPONDED TO NORMAL OPERATION ACCORDING TO THE CHAMPION AVIATION CHECK-A-PLUG AV-27 CHART. A BORESCOPE INSPECTION REVEALED NO MECHANICAL DEFORMATION ON THE VALVES, CYLINDER WALLS, OR INTERNAL CYLINDER HEAD. THE LEFT ENGINE SUSTAINED MECHANICAL DAMAGE, AND INVESTIGATORS COULD ONLY MANUALLY ROTATE IT APPROXIMATELY 30 DEGREES BEFORE IT WOULD BIND. BOTH MAGNETOS WERE MANUALLY ROTATED AND PRODUCED SPARK AT ALL POSTS. (-23) STUDENT RENTED AIRCRAFT @ AERO CLUB, VAN NUYS, CA. PRE-FLIGHTED AND FULL FUELED ACFT. INSTRUCTOR & STUDENT WERE PRACTICING SINGLE ENGINE FLIGHT MANEUVERS. STUDENT WAS FLYING THE AIRCRAFT. WHILE SETTING UP FOR RETARDING MIXTURE ON RIGHT ENGINE, AT NORMAL CRUISE, A LOUD BANG CAME FROM OUTSIDE OF AIRCRAFT. INSTRUCTOR COULD NOT SEE RIGHT ENGINE PROPELLER OR RIGHT ENGINE. RIGHT ENGINE STILL ATTACHED, DROPPED BELOW PILOT VIEW, FORWARD ENGINE MOUNTS BROKEN. AIRCRAFT ROLLED TO RIGHT (WITHIN 3.5 TO 5 SECONDS OF NOISE). THEAIRCRAFT WAS DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. INSTRUCTOR TOOK OVER & REGAINED LESS THAN 100% CONTROL. SHUT-DOWN RIGHT ENGINE, LEFT ENGINE FULL POWER-NORMAL. AIRCRAFT WAS IN A RIGHT DESCENDING TURN. INSTRUCTOR STARTED TO LOOK FOR AN EMERGENCY LANDING AREA. AIRCRAFT BECAME INCREASINGLY HARDER TO CONTROL. INSTRUCTOR SAID THAT HE NEVER REALLY FELT THAT HE HAD FULL CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT. INSTRUCTOR ASSUMED THAT AIRCRAFT HAD CONTROL DEVICE SYSTEM MALFUNCTION, DUE TO HARD CONTROL OF AIRCRAFT. AIRCRAFT CONTINUED TO FLY IN RIGHT HAND DESCENT. AIRCRAFT FLEW IN A RIGHT HAND DESCENDING FLIGHT FROM THE 101 FREEWAY, NORTHWARD, OVER THE COSTCO STORE AND CRASH LANDED IN THE PIERCE BROTHERS CEMETARY. ## 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 LAX03FA065](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX03FA065), Jan 11, 2003: Piper PA-34-200 (N56484), Westlake Villag, CA, destroyed. Probable cause: a fatigue crack in the propeller hub due to the inadequate design location of the grease fitting and the chamfering process. ## Other reports on N56484 (4) Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date. - [Incident 19970220008069I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970220008069I), Feb 20, 1997: Piper PA34200 (N56484), Long Beach, CA, Minor damage. Narrative: this incident occurred during a flight instruction session. The flight instructor, Mr. Tabassian stated that he and his student had completed air… - [Incident 19960426018319I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960426018319I), Apr 26, 1996: Piper PA34200 (N56484), Van Nuys, CA, Minor damage. Narrative: just before touchdown, the instructor asked the student, "3 greens, yes?" And then visually looked at the 3 green landing gear down lights himself,… - [Accident 19950624047209A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950624047209A), Jun 24, 1995: Piper PA34200 (N56484), Avalon, CA, Substantial damage. Brakes failed landing. Overran runway into fence. First flight since brakes replaced had air in lines. - [Incident 19920815037359I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19920815037359I), Aug 15, 1992: Piper PA34200 (N56484), Los Angeles, CA, Minor damage. Nose landing gear collapsed on landing rollout. 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.