# Accident 20180928016469A: Piper PA-32-300, Bartow, FL, September 28, 2018

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 28, 2018, 13:35 local time
- Place: Bartow, FL
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 27.9372° N, 81.8556° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.9372&lon=-81.8556&mi=10
- Aircraft: N4592X, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4592X-2023-10-07) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-32-300 (registry code 7103212, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32-300) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming TI0-540 series (registry code 41533, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32-300
- Reported engine: LYCOMING TI0-540 SER
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 2
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 463 total, 360 in this make and model, 6 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA18LA265](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA18LA265) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180928016469A

## Narrative

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

PILOT & PASSENGER DEPARTED BOCA RATON AIRPORT WITH NO PROBLEM. ABOUT 10 MILES SOUTH OF LAKELAND, FL, THE AIRCRAFT ENGINE BEGAN TO RUN ROUGHLY, THE PILOT NOTIFIED ATC AS HE HAD BEEN IN CONTACT WITH THEM DURING THE FLIGHT. THE PILOT NOTIFIED THE CONTROLLER AND DECLARED AN EMERGENCY. WITHIN A FEW MINUTES A CYLINDER EXPLODED ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ENGINE CAUSING THE COWLING TO BLOW THE AIRFRAME REMAINING HELD ON BY ONE STRAP AND BLOCKING THE FORWARD VIEW. IN ADDITION OIL FROM THE ENGINE COVERED THE ENTIRE WINDSHIELD BLOCKING FORWARD VISION. THERE WAS  NO FORWARD VIEW DUE TO THE ENGINE OIL AND THE COWL FLAP BLOCKING THE ENTIRE WINDSCREEN.

THE PILOT REQUESTED VECTORS TO THE NEAREST AIRPORT WHICH WAS BARTOW AIRPORT, BUT THE AIRPORT COULD NOT BE FOUND. THE PILOT FLEW THE PLANE FROM APPROXIMATELY 3,000' ALL THE WAY TO THE ACCIDENT SITE IN A MARSHY AREA IN THE VICINITY OF LAKE HANCOCK, NEAR HWY 98 SOUTH IN HIGHLAND, CITY, FL.

## 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 ERA18LA265](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA18LA265), Sep 28, 2018: Piper PA32 (N4592X), Bartow, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: A total loss of engine power after the separation of the No. 3 cylinder from the crankcase due to improper maintenance.

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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