# Accident 20150213002549A: Piper PA-28R-180, Haviland, KS, February 13, 2015 - Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported - Date: February 13, 2015, 23:25 local time - Place: Haviland, KS - Damage: Substantial damage - Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight - Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91) - Location: 37.6083° N, 99.1156° W: From the FAA - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.6083&lon=-99.1156&mi=10 - Aircraft: N3918T, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3918T-2018-03-02) (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 PA-28R-180 - Reported engine: LYCOMING I0360 B1E - People aboard: 2 - Fatal injuries: 0 - Other injuries: 0 - Pilot certificates: Private pilot - Pilot flight hours: 183 total, 2 in this make and model, 11 in the last 90 days - NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN15LA146](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN15LA146) (OpenAirDocs) - FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/) - Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150213002549A ## Narrative As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^. THE NUMBER 4 CYLINDER WAS REPLACED ON THE ENGINE APPROXIMATELY .5 HOURS PRIOR TO THE DEPARTURE OF THE ACCIDENT FLIGHT WITH A CYLINDER OVERHAULED BY A FAA CERTIFICATED REPAIR STATION. AT THE SAME TIME OF THE CYLINDER REPLACEMENT THE NUMBER 4 CONNECTING ROD WAS REMOVED FROM THE ENGINE FOR A REPLACEMENT OF THE WRIST PIN BUSHING DUE TO EXCESSIVE CLEARANCE BETWEEN THE CONNECTING ROD AND THE WRIST PIN. THIS REPLACEMENT WAS ACCOMPLISHED AT A FACILITY IN ATCHINSON, KS. THE AIRCRAFT WAS APPROVED FOR RETURN TO SERVICE AFTER THE MAINTENANCE. THERE WERE 2 SHORT FILGHTS ON THE AIRCRAFT AFTER THE CYLINDER REPLACEMENT TOTALING APPROXIMATELY .5 HOURS OF FLIGHT AND GROUND OPERATION. THE AIRCRAFT DEPARTED EAST KANSAS CITY AIRPORT (3GV) AT APPROXIMATELY 2118 LOCAL (0318 UTC). AFTER APPROXIMATELY 2.2 HOURS OF FLIGHT, WHILE IN CRUISE FLIGHT AT 8500 FT. MSL AND APPROXIMATELY 12 MILES WEST OF PRATT MUNICIPAL AIRPORT, THERE WAS A LOUD POP AND THE AIRCRAFT EXPERIENCED A SEVERE VIBRATION FOR ABOUT 5 SECONDS AND THE ENGINE LOST POWER. A SECOND EXPLOSION OCCURRED AND THE AIRCRAFT RAPIDLY DECELERATED, THE NOSE POINTED DOWN AND THE EMERGENCY LOCATOR TRANSMITTER (ELT) ACTIVATED. THE LANDING GEAR IN TRANSIT LIGHT ACTIVATED BUT THE LANDING GEAR DOWN AND LOCK LIGHTS DID NOT ACIVATE. THE AIRCRAFT WAS DESCENDING AT APPROXIMATELY 2500 TO 3000 FEET PER MINUTE AT THIS TIME. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY TWICE BUT DUE TO THE ELT ACTIVATION HE WAS UNABLE TO HEAR ANY RESPONSE. HE SET THE TRANSPONDER TO SQUAWK 7700 AND ESTABLISHED BEST GLIDE SPEED. THE PILOT WAS ABLE TO ESTABLISH THAT THERE WAS AN EAST/WEST STRAIGHT ROAD BELOW HIM AND HE LINDED UP FOR A LANDING TO THE WEST ON THE ROAD. HE PLACED THE LANDING GEAR IN THE DOWN POSITION AND ONLY NOTED DOWN AND LOCKED INDICATIONS FROM THE MAIN GEAR AND NOT THE NOSE GEAR. HE ATTEMPTED AN EMERGENCY GEAR EXTENSION WITH NO CHANGE IN INDICATION. HE LEVELED OFF AT APPROXIMATELY 100 FT AGL AND 110 MPH AND NO FLAPS. HE TOUCHED DOWN AT APPROXIMATELY 75 MPH ON THE RIGHT HAND SHOULDER OF THE ROAD TO AVOID HIS LEFT WING STRIKING ONCOMING TRAFFIC ON THE ROAD. HE ATTEMPTED TO LOWER THE NOSE TO FEEL IF THE NOSE GEAR HAD EXTENDED. HE WAS UNABLE TO DETECT THE NOSE GEAR SO HE HELD THE NOSE OFF THE GROUND. THE AIRCRAFT PROCEEDED OFF THE RIGHT SHOULDER INTO A DITCH. THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK A CONCRETE CULVERT WITH THE BELLY AND COLLAPSED THE LEFT MAIN GEAR. THE AIRCRAFT BOUNCED IN THE AIR, TURNED APPROXIMATELY 120 DEGREES AND CAME TO REST IN THE BOTTOM OF A DITCH. THE PILOT AND PASSENGER EXITED THE AIRCRAFT AND CONTACTED 911. THE FOLLOWING MORNING THE AIRCRAFT WAS RELOCATED TO THE HAVILAND, KS AIRPORT WHERE IT WAS SECURED IN A HANGAR FOR STORAGE. ON MONDAY FEBRUARY 17 INSPECTORS FROM THE WICHITA FLIGHT STANDARDS DISTRICT OFFICE ARRIVED AT HAVILAND AIRPORT TO INVESTIGATE THE ACCIDENT. IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE NUMBER 4 CYLINDER WHICH HAD BEEN REPLACED APPROXIMATELY 2.8 HOURS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT, HAD BEEN DETACHED FROM THE REMAINDER OF THE ENGINE. THE ENGINE WAS SEVERELY DAMAGED AND THE NUMBER 4 CONNECTING ROD WAS BENT AROUND THE CRANKSHAFT DUE TO THE ENGINE FAILURE. THE ENGINE IS SCHEDULED TO BE REMOVED AND SENT FOR ANALITICAL TEAR DOWN. IF ANY SUBSTANCIAL DISCRIPANCIES ARE NOTED DURING THE TEAR DOWN AN AMENDED REPORT WILL BE SUBMITTED AT THAT TIME. ## 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 CEN15LA146](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN15LA146), Feb 14, 2015: Piper PA 28R-180 (N3918T), Haviland, KS, substantial damage. Probable cause: The loss of torque on the No. 4 cylinder through bolts, which led to the subsequent failure of the piston, the liberation of the connecting rod, the separation of the No. 4 cylinder from the… 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.