# Accident 20200920014639A: Piper PA-28R-180, Moosic, PA, September 20, 2020 - Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported - Date: September 20, 2020, 20:46 local time - Place: Moosic, PA - Damage: Substantial damage - Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight - Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91) - Location: 41.3741° N, 75.7039° W: From the FAA - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.3741&lon=-75.7039&mi=10 - Aircraft: N3790T, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3790T-2021-12-04) (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 SER - People aboard: 2 - Fatal injuries: 0 - Other injuries: 2 - Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot - Pilot flight hours: 1,136 total - NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA20LA322](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA20LA322) (OpenAirDocs) - FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/) - Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200920014639A ## Narrative As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^. AIRCRAFT WAS IN CRUISE AT 8500 FT MSL, EN ROUTE FROM BTV TO DMW, AND DIVERTED TO AVP DUE TO A ROUGH RUNNING ENGINE. AIRCRAFT LOST COMMUNICATIONS WITH THE TOWER, AND CRASHED INTO A RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD APPROXIMATELY 5 MILES FROM AVP, STRIKING A POWER LINE POLE WITH THE RIGHT OUTBOARD WING, SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGING THE RIGHT WING AND KNOCKING THE POLE DOWN, THEN, STRIKING THE GROUND AND A POWER LINE POLE WITH THE LEFT OUTBOARD WING, SEPARATING THE OUTBOARD SECTION OF WING AND AILERON FROM THE AIRCRAFT. THE AIRCRAFT SLID AND SPUN TO A STOP APPROX. 175 FT. FROM THE INITIAL POINT OF GROUND CONTACT. NO FIRE WAS OBSERVED AND NO GROUND INJURIES WERE REPORTED. DURING INTERVIEW, THE PILOT RATED PASSENGER STATED THAT SHE WAS IN THE LEFT SEAT DURING THE ACCIDENT FLIGHT AND ACTING AS PIC UNTIL THE ENGINE STARTED TO LOSE POWER AND AN IN-FLIGHT EMERGENCY WAS DECLARED. FLYING AT CRUISE AND ATTEMPTING TO LEAN THE ENGINE, THEY NOTICED THE #2 CYLINDER EGT DROP TO -270F FROM PEAK, FOLLOWED BY VIBRATION. AT THAT POINT, THE OWNER TOOK THE CONTROLS AND SHE DECLARED AN IFE. THE OWNER TOLD HER THAT THEY HAD ENOUGH ALTITUDE AND POWER TO MAKE IT TO AVP, 22NM OUT, AND MAINTAINED 100 MPH GLIDE SPEED PER THE AFM/POH. THEY SOON RAPIDLY LOST CYLINDER #1, FOLLOWED BY A LOSS OF OIL PRESSURE, AND AN UNCONTROLLABLE PROP OVERSPEED UNLESS ENGINE POWER WAS REDUCED TO MINIMUM. SHE THEN NOTICED SMOKE IN THE COCKPIT AND OPENED A VENT WINDOW. REALIZING THAT THEY WOULD NOT MAKE AVP WITH TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER, THEY PREPARED FOR AN ALTERNATE, OFF-FIELD LANDING, FOCUSING ON A PARKING LOT UNTIL NOTICING A LARGE BUILDING BETWEEN THEM AND SAID PARKING LOT. THE ACCIDENT LOCATION THEN BECAME THE BEST OPTION AS THEY COULD SEE POWER POLES AND LINES DOWN THE LEFT SIDE OF THE STREET, BUT THE RIGHT APPEARED CLEAR. THEY NOTICED THE SINGLE POLE ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE STREET AT THE LAST MOMENT, JUST PRIOR TO INITIAL CONTACT. AIRCRAFT INSPECTION REVEALED THE #2 CYLINDER SEPARATED FROM THE CASE APPROX. 2 INCHES, BREAKING THE UPPER STUDS, AND BREAKING THE LEFT CASE CLOSE TO THE FOUR LOWER STUDS, LEAVING THE STUDS INTACT. THE PISTON WAS STILL INSIDE THE CYLINDER, AND THE PISTON/CONNECTING ROD ASSY. WAS STILL INTACT AND CONNECTED TO THE CRANKSHAFT. MINOR MECHANICAL DAMAGE TO THE CONNECTING ROD AND A BROKEN PISTON SKIRT WERE ALSO NOTED. TWO UPPER STUDS WERE NOTED TO HAVE 3-4 COURSE THREADS SHOWING (COURSE THREADS THREAD INTO THE CASE), AND THE INSPECTOR COULD TURN ONE STUD BY HAND. FURTHER INSPECTION REVEALED EXCESSIVE HEAT DAMAGE DUE TO OIL LOSS TO THE LOWER CONNECTING ROD, CRANKSHAFT, AND VISIBLE PORTION OF THE #1 CYLINDER CONNECTING ROD. ## 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 ERA20LA322](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA20LA322), Sep 21, 2020: Piper PA28R (N3790T), Moosic, PA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The inadequate torquing of anchored-thru and free-thru studs during installation of the No. 2 cylinder, resulting in their fatigue fracture and subsequent total loss of engine power. Contributing to… ## Other reports on N3790T (3) Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date. - [Incident 19920415017849I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19920415017849I), Apr 15, 1992: Piper PA28R180 (N3790T), Point Lookout, MO, Minor damage. Almost landed gear up. Go around made as propeller struck runway. Landed safely on second try. - [Incident 19911230060299I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19911230060299I), Dec 30, 1991: Piper PA28R180 (N3790T), Osceola, AR, Minor damage. After landing on a sod airstrip the nose wheel hit a mound of dirt. Nose gear collapsed. - [Accident 19880209002229A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880209002229A), Feb 9, 1988: Piper PA28R180 (N3790T), Wisconsin Rapid, WI, Substantial damage. Skidded off icy runway on landing,a wing slid up on a snowbank on edge of runway. 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.