20040725024229A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Piper PA32RT300 · Ontario, CA · July 25, 2004

Date: July 25, 2004 · 11:50 local
Place: Ontario, CA
Airport: Ontario International Airport
Phase of flight: Normal Cruise
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N5GC
NTSB investigation: NTSBLAX04LA280
Reported as: Piper PA32RT300
Reported engine: Lycoming IO540*
People aboard: 2
Fatal injuries: 0
Pilot’s flight hours: 8,038 total600 in this make and model26 in the last 90 days

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

(-23) Pilot stated he noticed while climbing after takeoff from cable airport (ccb), the engine oil temp appeared to be a little high. He also stated this was normal for this aircraft. He noticed that this time the temperature had not lowered after assuming level flight. After approximately 20-30 minutes of level flying he decided to descend to chino airport (cno). While descending he noticed the oil temp still had not dropped and decided to return to cable airport (ccb). He then heard two loud noises and noticed oil streaking on his windshield. The engine then stopped entirely. He attempted to glide to Ontario airport (ont). Not having enough altitude to make the runway he landed in a field. No injuries, no fire, with substantial damage.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) PILOT STATED HE NOTICED WHILE CLIMBING AFTER TAKEOFF FROM CABLE AIRPORT (CCB), THE ENGINE OIL TEMP APPEARED TO BE A LITTLE HIGH. HE ALSO STATED THIS WAS NORMAL FOR THIS AIRCRAFT. HE NOTICED THAT THIS TIME THE TEMPERATURE HAD NOT LOWERED AFTER ASSUMING LEVEL FLIGHT. AFTER APPROXIMATELY 20-30 MINUTES OF LEVEL FLYING HE DECIDED TO DESCEND TO CHINO AIRPORT (CNO). WHILE DESCENDING HE NOTICED THE OIL TEMP STILL HAD NOT DROPPED AND DECIDED TO RETURN TO CABLE AIRPORT (CCB). HE THEN HEARD TWO LOUD NOISES AND NOTICED OIL STREAKING ON HIS WINDSHIELD. THE ENGINE THEN STOPPED ENTIRELY. HE ATTEMPTED TO GLIDE TO ONTARIO AIRPORT (ONT). NOT HAVING ENOUGH ALTITUDE TO MAKE THE RUNWAY HE LANDED IN A FIELD. NO INJURIES, NO FIRE, WITH SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB LAX04LA280Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportOntario, CAa catastrophic engine failure due to the overheating of a connecting rod bearing, and the resulting failure of the rod, for undetermined reasons.Jul 25, 2004 · Substantial damage