# NTSB ANC18LA069: Piper PA32, N3957X, Wrangell, AK, September 3, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: September 3, 2018, 13:53 local (21:53 UTC) - Place: Wrangell, AK - Coordinates: 55.968887, -132.423049 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=55.9689&lon=-132.4230&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 98252 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC18LA069 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/98252/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98252 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC18LA069 ## Probable cause The total loss of engine power due to oil starvation after an interruption of oil circulation for reasons that could not be determined based on the available evidence. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Engine (reciprocating): recip eng oil sys](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058550): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-32-300, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058550/cases.md?model=7103212), [All aircraft, 130 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058550/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-32-300, 25 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=7103212), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, while in level cruise flight, the engine rpm began to increase. Shortly after reducing the manifold pressure in an effort to correct for the high RPM, he noticed the engine oil pressure drop with oil visible on the airplane’s windscreen, followed by a total loss of engine power. He performed an emergency landing near the high tide line in an area of seagrass. During the emergency landing the airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and left wing. Examination of the engine revealed a large fracture hole at the Nos. 4- and 5-cylinder pads. The Nos. 4 and 5 connecting rods were fragmented, and pieces of the connecting rods and a large amount of metal debris was located within the engine. A large amount of metal contamination was present in the oil suction screen. The Nos. 4 and 5 connecting rods and rod bearing journals exhibited extensive mechanical damage and signatures consistent with exposure to extreme high heat. The damage to the internal engine components, the large amount of metal contamination in the oil screen, and the significant metal debris inside the engine were all consistent with a catastrophic engine failure due to a lack of lubrication. The source of the interruption of oil circulation to the engine could not be determined after engine disassembly. ## Factual narrative On September 3, 2018, about 1353 Alaska daylight time, a Piper PA-32 airplane, N3957X, sustained substantial damage when it was involved in an accident near Wrangell, Alaska. The private pilot was not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. According to the pilot, while in level cruise flight, the engine rpm increased from a cruise power setting of 2,300 to 3,100, and he reduced the manifold pressure to correct for the high rpm. Shortly thereafter, he noticed the engine oil pressure drop and oil visible on the airplane’s windscreen, followed by a total loss of engine power. He performed an emergency landing near the high tide line in an area of seagrass. During the emergency landing, the airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and left wing. The airplane was equipped with a Lycoming IO-540-K1G5 engine. Examination of the engine revealed a large fracture hole near the Nos. 4- and 5-cylinder pads. The Nos. 4 and 5 connecting rods were fragmented, and pieces of the connecting rods and a large amount of metal debris were located within the engine and oil suction screen. The Nos. 4 and 5 connecting rods and rod bearing journals exhibited extensive mechanical damage and signatures consistent with extreme high heat. The engine oil pump was intact with no evidence of thermal damage. The engine case halves displayed mechanical damage with multiple protrusions from the inside out. When the oil sump was removed, damaged connecting rod ends and a large amount of metal debris were discovered. The pilot reported that the oil filter element had not been cut and examined at the last oil change, contrary to Lycoming Mandatory Service Bulletin No. 480F. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3957X](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3957X-2021-10-30), registration cancelled 2021-10-30, S/N 32-7640003, built 1975 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA32 (300) - Registry model: [Piper PA-32-300](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32-300) (registry code 7103212) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming TI0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (registry code 41533, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 32-7640003 - Year built: 1975 - Airframe hours: 8228.6 - Engines: Lycoming TI0-540-K1G5 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 12, 2018 - Departed: Ketchikan, AK - Destination: Juneau, AK - Flight plan: VFR - Equipment: Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 55; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 1,692 total, 488 in this make and model, 1,650 as pilot in command, 34 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 270° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 30.26 inHg - Observed at: PAWG ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20180903012979A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180903012979A), Sep 3, 2018: Piper PA-32-300, Wrangell, AK, Substantial damage. On September 3, 2018 around 1353 Alaska time, a PA32-300 N3957X had a total loss of engine power, and shortly after noticed loss of oil pressure, and then oil… ## Other investigations on N3957X (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 LAX83LA401](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX83LA401), Aug 22, 1983: Piper PA-32-300 (N3957X), Bermuda Dunes, CA, substantial damage ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 20, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98252. 15.6 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 3.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12608568&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Point%20one%20redacted-Rel.pdf - Wreckage examination summary (item 2, PDF, 7 pages, 3.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12395939&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Wreckage%20Examination%20Summary%20N3957X-Rel.pdf - Lycoming service bulletin 480F (item 3, PDF, 16 pages, 6.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12395065&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Service%20Bulletin%20480F-Rel.pdf - Statement of party representatives to NTSB investigation (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 52 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12395897&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20party%20form_Lycoming-ANC18LA069_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 5, PDF, 2 pages, 1.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12395530&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-Rel.pdf 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. --- 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.