20050813018279A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Piper PA-24-250 · Challis, ID · August 13, 2005

Date: August 13, 2005 · 10:00 local
Place: Challis, ID
Phase of flight: Forced/Precautionary Landing
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N6677P
NTSB investigation: NTSBSEA05LA170
Reported as: Piper PA24250
Reported engine: Lycoming O540*
Fatal injuries: 0
Pilot’s flight hours: 328 total62 in this make and model6 in the last 90 days

N6677PRegistration cancelled Aug 27, 2013 · Piper PA-24-250S/N 24-1801 · Built 1960 Airframe modelPiper PA-24-250 Engine modelLycoming 0-540 seriesReciprocating

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) Shortly after take off, the pilot noticed the propeller had gone too high speed and he could not control it. He decided to turn around and land back at the airport. Shortly after turning around, the engine suddenly lost power. The pilot could not make it to the runway so he was forced to land in a hay field. The aircraft was destroyed during the landing. Post crash investigation revealed the engine quit due to the loss of engine oil. A large spot of oil was found on the ground in the area where the pilot had performed his pre-takeoff runup. During the examination of the engine, the investigation team found that an accessory drive adapter gasket had been pushed outward, allowing engine oil to be pumped out of the crank case while the engine was running. The engine had only been operated about 34 hours since a new propeller had been installed. The failed gasket was the wrong gasket for the cover that was installed on this engine.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) SHORTLY AFTER TAKE OFF, THE PILOT NOTICED THE PROPELLER HAD GONE TOO HIGH SPEED AND HE COULD NOT CONTROL IT. HE DECIDED TO TURN AROUND AND LAND BACK AT THE AIRPORT. SHORTLY AFTER TURNING AROUND, THE ENGINE SUDDENLY LOST POWER. THE PILOT COULD NOT MAKE IT TO THE RUNWAY SO HE WAS FORCED TO LAND IN A HAY FIELD. THE AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED DURING THE LANDING. POST CRASH INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE ENGINE QUIT DUE TO THE LOSS OF ENGINE OIL. A LARGE SPOT OF OIL WAS FOUND ON THE GROUND IN THE AREA WHERE THE PILOT HAD PERFORMED HIS PRE-TAKEOFF RUNUP. DURING THE EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE, THE INVESTIGATION TEAM FOUND THAT AN ACCESSORY DRIVE ADAPTER GASKET HAD BEEN PUSHED OUTWARD, ALLOWING ENGINE OIL TO BE PUMPED OUT OF THE CRANK CASE WHILE THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING. THE ENGINE HAD ONLY BEEN OPERATED ABOUT 34 HOURS SINCE A NEW PROPELLER HAD BEEN INSTALLED. THE FAILED GASKET WAS THE WRONG GASKET FOR THE COVER THAT WAS INSTALLED ON THIS ENGINE.

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 SEA05LA170Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportChallis, IDThe installation of an improper oil gasket by maintenance personnel, which resulted in a loss of engine oil and subsequent loss of engine power during the emergency descent.Aug 13, 2005 · Substantial damage

Other reports on N6677P · 1

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

Incident 19910406017849ILevel Off Touchdown · Hamilton, ALPilot unable to lower landing gear and landed gear up.Apr 6, 1991