# Accident 20040914023379A: Piper PA31350, Sweeny, TX, September 14, 2004

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 14, 2004, 17:45 local time
- Place: Sweeny, TX
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 28.9731° N, 95.8633° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.9731&lon=-95.8633&mi=10
- Aircraft: N555MC, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N555MC-2006-03-30) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-31-350 (registry code 7103110, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-31-350) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming TI0-540 series (registry code 41533, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA31350
- Reported engine: LYC TIO540J2BD
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 1,800 total, 25 in this make and model, 25 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB FTW04LA238](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW04LA238) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040914023379A

## Narrative

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

(-23) AT ABOUT 1745 CST N555MC DEPARTED (T97) PORT LAVACA, TX TO (HOU) HOUSTON, TX, AFTER 25 MINUTES OF FLIGHT TIME LEFT ENGINE QUIT. LEFT PROPELLER ASSEMBLY FELL FORWARD ABOUT 6 INCHES. LEFT ENGINE WAS ON FIRE FROM OIL FROM ENGINE. PILOT MADE A HARD LANDING GEAR UP IN A FIELD. INSPECTION OF LEFT ENGINE SHOWED THAT THE NUMBER 1 PISTON CONNECTING ROD END CAP HAD SEPARATED FROM THE CRANKSHAFT CAUSING A CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE WHERE AS THE LEFT PROPELLER ASSEMBLY, #1 CYLINDER, NOSE CRANKCASE CAME SEPARATED FROM ENGINE UPON IMPACT WITH GROUND. BACK GROUND INFORMATION SEE INCIDENT CASE ^PRIVACY DATA OM^ GEAR UP LANDING.

## 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 FTW04LA238](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW04LA238), Sep 14, 2004: Piper PA-31-350 (N555MC), Sweeny, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The fracture failure of the left engine crankshaft for undetermined reasons.

## Other reports on N555MC (1)

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

- [Incident 20011228037789I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20011228037789I), Dec 28, 2001: Piper PA31350 (N555MC), Indianola, TX, Minor damage. (-23) On December 28, 2001, the aircraft was landed gear up on a private runway near Indianola, Texas. There were no injuries to the pilot and one passenger.…

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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