# Accident 20220514007029A: Piper PA-12, Enterprise, OR, May 14, 2022

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 14, 2022, 15:30 local time
- Place: Enterprise, OR
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 45.4160° N, 117.2511° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.4160&lon=-117.2511&mi=10
- Aircraft: N3960M, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3960M) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-12 (registry code 7101202, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-12) (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-12
- Reported engine: LYCOMING 0-320-B2B
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Student
- Pilot flight hours: 94 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR22LA177](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR22LA177) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220514007029A

## Narrative

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

THE STUDENT PILOT DEPARTED RUNWAY 30 AND AT AN ALTITUDE OF 500-600' AGL OIL STARTED COVERING THE WINDSHIELD WHICH WAS LIMITING HIS FORWARD VISIBILITY. THE PILOT DECIDED TO LAND OFF AIRPORT INTO A STUBBLE FIELD. THE CAUSE OF THE OIL LOSS HAS BEEN DETERMINED TO BE IMPROPER INSTALLATION OF THE CRANKSHAFT OIL PLUG.

## 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 WPR22LA177](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR22LA177), May 14, 2022: Piper PA-12 (N3960M), Enterprise, OR, substantial damage. Probable cause: The inadequate maintenance and inspection of the crankshaft expansion plug, which resulted in the separation of the expansion plug from the crankshaft and the subsequent loss of oil and windshield…

## Other reports on N3960M (1)

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

- [Accident 19940527012819A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940527012819A), May 27, 1994: Piper PA12 (N3960M), Nashua, MT, Substantial damage. Heavily loaded. Stalled during proceedure turn around. Too low to recover.

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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