# Accident 20160418004109A: Piper PA-28-161, Okeechobee, FL, April 18, 2016

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 18, 2016, 15:30 local time
- Place: Okeechobee, FL
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: Pilot school (Part 141)
- Location: 27.4350° N, 80.6772° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.4350&lon=-80.6772&mi=10
- Aircraft: N151DC, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N151DC-2016-08-26) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-28-161 (registry code 7102803, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-161) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-320 series (registry code 41508, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-161
- Reported engine: LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 84 total, 84 in this make and model, 43 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA16LA164](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA16LA164) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20160418004109A

## Narrative

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

ON APRIL 18TH 2016 AROUND 1530 A PIPER-28 REGISTRATION NUMBER N151DC SERIAL NUMBER 2842138 HAD MID-FLIGHT ENGINE FAILURE WHICH RESULTED IN OFF AIRPORT LANDING DESTROYING THE AIRCRAFT DURING LANDING.  DURING A SOLO CROSS-COUNTRY  FLIGHT  THE PILOT REPORTED A ROUGH RUNNING ENGINE TO ATC  OVER ST LUCIE COUNTY FLORIDA RETURNING TO VERO BEACH AIRPORT (KVRB) THE PILOT PERFORMED  A ROUGH RUNNING ENGINE CHECKLIST THE ENGINE DIDN?T RECOVER AND ABOUT 10 SECONDS LATER THE ENGINE LOSS ALL POWER AND STOP RUNNING . THE PILOT FOUND A SMALL PRIVATE GRASS STRIP AT COW CREEK RANCH AND STARTED THE BEST POSSIBLE APPROACH TO THE FIELD BUT DUE A TAIL WIND THE AIRCRAFT TOUCH DOWN MID FIELD AND WAS UNABLE TO STOP IN TIME NOT TO HIT FARM SHEDS AND A PICK-UP TRUCK. THE COLLISIONS RESULTED IN RIPPING OFF THE WINGS AND DAMAGING THE FUSELAGE.  THE PILOT ONLY RECEIVED MINOR BUMPS AND SCRATCHES AND WAS RELEASES FROM HOSPITAL THAT DAY.

DURING SEQUENT ENGINE TEAR PERFORMED ON APRIL 29, 2016 AT FLIGHT SAFETY MAINTENANCE HANGAR. REVILED EXCESSIVE WEAR ON #3/1 CAM LOBE AND CAM FOLLOWER CONTRIBUTED TO THE FAILURE OF THE # 3 PISTON OIL RING GROVE AND SEPARATING THE PISTON IN HALF IN THE CYLINDER.

## 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 ERA16LA164](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA16LA164), Apr 18, 2016: Piper PA28 (N151DC), Okeechobee, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The failure of the No. 3 piston due to fatigue cracking, which resulted in a total loss of engine power and subsequent forced landing, during which the airplane impacted obstacles.

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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