# Incident 20170422004479I: Piper PA-28-140, Saipan, CM, April 22, 2017

- Type: FAA incident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 22, 2017, 13:00 local time
- Place: Saipan, CM
- Damage: Minor damage
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft: N4437X, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4437X) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-28-140 (registry code 7102802, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-140) (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-28-140
- Reported engine: LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES
- People aboard: 3
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170422004479I

## Narrative

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

AT APPROXIMATELY 13:11 LOCAL TIME ON 04/22/2017(GMT+10) PIPER PA-28-140 REGISTRATION NUMBER N4437X, SERIAL NUMBER 28-7625032, MADE AN EMERGENCY LANDING ON A GOLF COURSE AFTER THE PILOT DECLARED AN EMERGENCY.

THE PILOT REPORTED THAT DURING CRUISE THE ENGINE MADE A LOUD "BANG" FOLLOWED BY A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER.  HE FURTHER REPORTED THAT MOVEMENT OF THE THROTTLE DID NOT RESULT IN ANY CHANGE IN ENGINE PERFORMANCE.  HE STATED THAT HE SWITCHED FUEL TANKS AT WHICH POINT SMOKE WAS NOTED COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WHICH IS WHEN HE COMMITTED TO MAKING THE EMERGENCY LANDING.  THE AIRCRAFT TOUCHED DOWN ON A FAIRWAY AND CAME TO A STOP WITH A PORTION OF THE NOSE IN SOME LIGHT BUSHES AT THE END OF THE FAIRWAY.

POST LANDING INSPECTION DID NOT REVEAL ANY SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE AIRFRAME AND THE PILOT AND 2 PASSENGERS WERE NOT INJURED.  MINOR DAMAGE INCLUDED A DENTED LOWER COWLING, LEFT HAND FLAP TRAILING EDGE DAMAGE, AND A SLIGHT BENDING OF THE NOSE LANDING GEAR AND BROKEN FIBERGLASS ON THE NOSE WHEEL FAIRING COVER.  A VISUAL INSPECTION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED A CRACK OF APPROXIMATELY 4 INCHES ON THE ENGINE'S CRANKCASE EMANATING FROM THE #3 CYLINDER.  THE ENGINE (LYCOMING O-320-E3D SERIAL # RL-24215-27E) WAS REMANUFACTURED BY THE OEM AND ENTERED SERVICE ON OCTOBER 4, 2016 ACCUMULATING 630.9 HOURS SINCE NEW AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT.

OPERATOR COMPLETED THE REMOVAL OF THE ENGINE AND ARE NOW WORKING ON CRATING AND SCHEDULING ITS SHIPMENT FROM TINIAN BACK TO LYCOMING.  A BRIEF SUMMARY OF WHAT WAS OBSERVED (ASIDE FROM THE PICTURES AND THE INCIDENT REPORT) BEFORE REMOVING THE ENGINE:

1.  IN PREPARATION FOR SHIPMENT, THE OIL SUMP WAS DRAINED AND CONTAINED APPROXIMATELY 1 QUART OF OIL.  THE OIL SUMP PLUG CONTAINED METALLIC DEBRIS (BOTH FERROUS AND NON-FERROUS).  SMALL AMOUNTS OF DEBRIS WAS ALSO FOUND IN THE OIL PUMP SUCTION SCREEN.  SEE ATTACHED PICTURES.  WE DID NOT REMOVE THE OIL FILTER.

2.  ALL ACCESSORIES (MAGNETOS, VACUUM PUMP, OIL FILTER, FUEL PUMP) WERE SECURE WITH NO VISUAL SIGNS OF DAMAGE OR DISCREPANCIES.

3.  THE CRANKSHAFT TRAVEL WAS LIMITED TO ABOUT 90 DEGREES TOTAL WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ROTATE THE PROPELLER BY HAND.

ENGINE SENT TO LYCOMING FOR EVALUATION.

## Other reports on N4437X (1)

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

- [Incident 19871016071609I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19871016071609I), Oct 16, 1987: Piper PA28140 (N4437X), Las Vegas, NV, Minor damage. The pilot reported a downdraft caused the airplane to clip a tree in high terrain. Aircraft safely returned.

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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