# Accident 20220914017069A: Piper PA-28R-201, Conway, SC, September 14, 2022 - Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported - Date: September 14, 2022, 12:22 local time - Place: Conway, SC - Damage: Destroyed - Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight - Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91) - Location: 33.8121° N, 78.9674° W: From the FAA - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.8121&lon=-78.9674&mi=10 - Aircraft: N62FC, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N62FC-2023-06-21) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry model: Piper PA-28R-201 (registry code 7102816, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28r-201) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: Lycoming I0360 series (registry code 41515, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28R-201 - Reported engine: LYCOMING I0360 SER - People aboard: 2 - Fatal injuries: 2 - Other injuries: 0 - Pilot certificates: Private pilot - NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN22FA419](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22FA419) (OpenAirDocs) - FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/) - Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220914017069A ## Narrative As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^. ACCORDING TO MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL ON THE GROUND AT MYRTLE BEACH INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (MYR),^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ WAS GOING TO COLUMBUS COUNTY MUNICIPAL AIRPORT (CPC) FOR FUEL AND THEN ULTIMATELY TO ODELL WILLIAMSON MUNICIPAL AIRPORT (60J) THE AIRCRAFTS HOME BASE. SHORTLY AFTER DEPARTING MYR, ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ HAD DIFFICULTIES NAVIGATING AND MAINTAINING HEADINGS ISSUED BY ATC. WHEN ASKED BY ATC ABOUT THE ERRANT HEADINGS, ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ STATED THEY WERE HAVING “COMPASS” ISSUES. A FEW MINUTES LATER N62FC REQUESTED TO RETURN TO MYR DUE TO “COMPASS” ISSUES. ATC ASKED IF THEY WERE DECLARING AN EMERGENCY AND ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ STATED THEY WERE NOT DECLARING AN EMERGENCY. APPROXIMATELY 30 SECONDS LATER, ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ ANNOUNCED THEY WERE DECLARING AN EMERGENCY DUE TO AN ENGINE FAILURE. ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ STATED THEY HAD A FIELD BELOW THEM AND THEY WERE GOING TO PUT IT DOWN THERE. ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ IMPACTED SEVERAL PINE TREES APPROXIMATELY 35-40 FEET FROM THE GROUND. THE RIGHT WING SEPARATED FROM THE FUSELAGE AND THE RUDDER WAS SHEARED OFF DURING CONTACT WITH THE TREES. AFTER CONTACTING THE TREES THE AIRCRAFT CONTACTED POWER LINES BEFORE IMPACTING AN EARTHEN BERM BESIDE A DIRT/GRAVEL ROAD. A POST-CRASH FIRE ENSUED DESTROYING MOST OF THE AIRCRAFT. THE PILOT AND RATED PASSENGER WERE FATALLY INJURED IN THE ACCIDENT. FIRST RESPONDERS WERE ABLE TO RECOVER PARTIALLY BURNED AIRCRAFT MAINTENANCE LOGS/RECORDS. ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ HAD JUST COME OUT OF MAINTENANCE AND WAS THE FIRST FLIGHT FOLLOWING THE MAINTENANCE WORK. ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ HAD AN AVIONICS UPGRADE THAT INCLUDED THE REMOVAL OF THE VACUUM SYSTEM, INSTALLATION OF A GARMIN GFC-500 AUTOPILOT AND TWO GARMIN G5 INSTRUMENTS. ACCORDING TO MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL THE ONLY ENGINE WORK THAT WAS PERFORMED WAS THE REMOVAL OF THE VACUUM PUMP. DURING THE ENGINE TEAR DOWN CONDUCTED BY THE LYCOMING FIELD REP ON SEPTEMBER 17TH, 2022 NO GASKET WAS FOUND BEHIND THE BLANKING PLATE USED TO COVER THE MOUNTING PAD LEFT BY THE REMOVAL OF THE VACUUM PUMP. ACCIDENT IS STILL UNDER INVESTIGATION BY THE NTSB. ## 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 CEN22FA419](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22FA419), Sep 14, 2022: Piper PA-28R-201 (N62FC), Conway, SC, destroyed, 2 fatal. Probable cause: The mechanic’s failure to install the required gasket on the vacuum pump drive pad in accordance with the maintenance manual, which resulted in oil exhaustion and the subsequent loss of engine power.… ## Other reports on N62FC (3) Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date. - [Incident 20080619845369I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080619845369I), Jun 19, 2008: Piper PA28R201 (N62FC), Deland, FL, Minor damage. (-23) While conducting an end-of-course test for a delta connection academy part 141 flight instructor certification course, check instructor [privacy data… - [Incident 20070111006839I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070111006839I), Jan 11, 2007: Piper PA28R201 (N62FC), Dayton, OH. (-23) The initial report from the FAA inspectors stated that when they were on short final, at wright brothers airport, mgy, the elevator control became jammed… - [Incident 20000420032679I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000420032679I), Apr 20, 2000: Piper PA28R201 (N62FC), Belmar/Farmingd, NJ, Minor damage. (-23)Second pilot ^privac^ being checked out in PA-28R by PIC [privacy data omitted] (CFI). Airman ^priv^ failed to extend gear and CFI [privacy data omitted]… 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.