# Accident 20230819014919A: Piper PA-28-180, Preston, CT, August 19, 2023

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 19, 2023, 18:10 local time
- Place: Preston, CT
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 41.5233° N, 72.0164° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.5233&lon=-72.0164&mi=10
- Aircraft: N7463W, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7463W) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-28-180 (registry code 7102808, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-180) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming O&VO-360 series (registry code 41514, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-180
- Reported engine: LYCOMING O&VO-360 SER
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 130 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA23LA341](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23LA341) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230819014919A

## Narrative

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

ON AUGUST 19, 2023 AT APPROXIMATELY 1810 LCL, A PIPER CHEROKEE 180 LANDED OFF AIRPORT IN A NEARBY FIELD CLOSE TO KGON AIRPORT. THE AIRMAN REPORTED THAT HE DEPARTED KMVY ENTROUTE TO KSWF AND CLIMBED TO ABOUT 4500 FEET. ABOUT 45 MIN INTO THE FLIGHT, HE NOTICED THE OIL PRESSURE GAUGE DROP TO ZERO WHILE ALL OTHER GAUGES WERE IN NORMAL RANGES. AIRMAN REPORTED THAT ENGINE OIL BEGAN POURING OUT IN COPIOUS AMOUNTS AND FLOWING UP THE WINDSCREEN. THE AIRMAN THEN ATTEMPTED TO LAND AT KGON BUT WAS UNABLE TO MAKE THE AIRPORT AND CHOSE A FIELD BELOW. AIRMAN STATED THE PROPELLOR STOPPED SPINNING AT 1000 FT. AIRMAN WAS TRAVELING AT 80 KTS TO LANDING SITE. AIRMAN MADE A SUCCESSFUL LANDING BUT STRUCK A METAL TEST-WELL PIPE AFTER ROLLING OUT 181 FEET, WHICH WAS HIDDEN IN THE TALL BRUSH. THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK THE PIPE AND ROTATED 180 DEGREES AND CONTINUED TO SLIDE BACKWARDS FOR 133 FEET. UPON INSPECTION, THE ENTIRE LEFT SIDE OF THE ENGINE CASING WAS SPLIT OPEN WITH SIGNIFICANT BREAK UP OF THE ENGINE IN FLIGHT. OIL WAS COATING THE ENTIRE INTERIOR OF THE COWLING. AIRCRAFTS RIGHT WING THEN DEPARTED THE AIRCRAFT ALONG WITH THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR. THE FUEL TANK WAS TORN ON THE RIGHT WING. APPROXIMATELY 14 GAL DRAINED FROM LEFT WING, 12 GAL DRAINED FROM RIGHT WING. APPROXIMATELY 3 GAL COLLECTED FROM SOIL BELOW AIRCRAFT. AIRMAN STATED HE PREPARED THE AIRCRAFT CONTROLS FOR AN EMERGENCY LANDING AND ALL FLIGHT CONTROLS CONCURRED WITH THAT STATEMENT. FUEL VALVE WAS FOUND POSITIONED ON THE RIGHT TANK. NO INJURIES.

## 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 ERA23LA341](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23LA341), Aug 19, 2023: Piper PA28 (N7463W), Preston, CT, substantial damage. Probable cause: A failure of the No. 2 connecting rod, which resulted in a total loss of engine power.

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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