# Accident 20030316003639A: Piper PA28R180, Enterprise, AL, March 16, 2003

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 16, 2003, 16:15 local time
- Place: Enterprise, AL
- Airport: Enterprise Municipal
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Practice Training Manuevers
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 31.2997° N, 85.8847° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.2997&lon=-85.8847&mi=10
- Aircraft: N7635J, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7635J) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-28R-180 (registry code 7102809, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28r-180) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming I0360 series (registry code 41515, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA28R180
- Reported engine: LYC IO360B1E
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 4,250 total, 250 in this make and model, 35 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ATL03LA054](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL03LA054) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030316003639A

## Narrative

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

(-23) PILOTS STATED THAT SHORTLY AFTER BEGINNING A MANEUVER (PRACTICING A STEEP SPIRAL) OVER A SELECTED SITE, THEY NOTICED THAT THE PROP RPM HAD GONE FROM THE SELECTED 2400 RPM TO 2700 RPM. WHEN THEY COULD NOT CONTROL THE PROPELLER THEY HEADED FOR THE ENTERPRISE AIRPORT. THEY IMMEDIATELY CHECKED OIL PRESSURE AND SAW NO INDICATION OF ANY OIL PRESSURE. THEY THEN STARTED LOOKING FOR AN OFF FIELD LANDING SITE AND MADE AN ADVISORY CALL FOR EMERGENCY LANDING. WITHIN SECONDS, THE ENGINE SEIZED AND BY THAT TIME THE WINDSHIELD WAS COVERED WITH OIL MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO SEE STRAIGHT AHEAD. THEY IDENTIFIED AN OPEN GRASS FIELD AND RON REYNOLDS TOOK CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE. THE GEAR WAS LOWERED AND THE FLAPS PUT TO FULL DOWN. UPON TOUCH DOWN, THE AIRPLANE KEPT STRAIGHT ON ROLL OUT UNTIL THE LAST MOMENT WHEN IT SPUN 120 DEGREES TO THE RIGHT. THE AIRPLANE SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO LEFT AND RIGHT WINGS, LANDING GEAR, FUSELAGE, AND PROPELLER. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. A PRELIMINARY INSPECTION INDICATED AN EXCESSIVE OIL LEAK AROUND THE FRONT AREA OF 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 ATL03LA054](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL03LA054), Mar 16, 2003: Piper PA-28R (N7635J), Enterprise, AL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The loss of engine power due to oil starvation resulting from a crack in the propeller governor external oil line. A factor was the soft terrain.

## Other reports on N7635J (2)

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

- [Incident 20000817027179I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000817027179I), Aug 17, 2000: Piper PA28R180 (N7635J), Marianna, FL, Minor damage. (-23)Pilot stated that during a routine flight with a demonstaion landing, he failed to lower the landing gear. Pilot said he realized to late that the gear…
- [Incident 19810104009999I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810104009999I), Jan 4, 1981: Piper PA28R200 (N7635J), Pensacola, FL, Minor damage. After copilot made a successful check ride the pilot took controll and made a hard landing.

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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