# NTSB ATL03LA103: Piper PA-28-140, N44541, Hamilton, AL, June 5, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 5, 2003, 16:45 local (21:45 UTC) - Place: Hamilton, AL - Coordinates: 33.388889, -88.000556 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.3889&lon=-88.0006&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 24, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Birmingham FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 57218 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL03LA103 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/57218/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL03LA103 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate preflight inspection by his failure to ensure adequate oil supply, which resulted in oil exhaustion and the failure of the connecting rod cap. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise - fluid,oil - exhaustion (cause) - aircraft preflight - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - engine assembly,connecting rod cap - failure (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - In flight collision with object, emergency landing - object - tree(s) (contributing factor) ## Analysis According to the pilot, about 45 minutes into the flight, while flying at an altitude of 3000 feet, the engine lost power. Efforts by the pilot to restore full engine power were unsuccessful. The pilot selected a nearby pasture for an emergency landing. The airplane collided with trees as the pilot maneuvered for the emergency landing. Examination of the engine revealed, the # 2 cylinder rod cap was broken, an no oil was found in the engine and the oil sump was dry. Review of the Cherokee 140 owner's handbook, section VI, Oil Requirements, states: The capacity of the O-320 series engine is 8 quarts, and the minimum safe quantity is 2 quarts. Section III, Preflight; states: 5c, (Check for obvious fuel or oil leaks.) 5d, (Check oil level, 8 quarts maximum.) The pilot did not report finding any problems with the airplane during his preflight. ## Factual narrative On June 5, 2003, at 1645 central daylight time, a Piper PA-28-140, N44541, registered to Pigeon Holding LLC, and operated by a private pilot, collided with trees while maneuvering for an emergency landing near Hamilton, Alabama. The personal flight operated under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 with no flight plan filed. Visual weather conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The airplane sustained substantial damage, and the pilot received minor injuries. The flight departed Aliceville, Alabama, en route to Muscle Shoals, Alabama, June 5, 2003 at 1545. According to the pilot, about 45 minutes into the flight, while flying at an altitude of 3000 feet, the engine lost power. Efforts by the pilot to restore full engine power were unsuccessful. The pilot selected a nearby pasture for an emergency landing. The airplane collided with trees as the pilot maneuvered for the emergency landing. During the engine examination the spark plugs were remove to facilitate a compression check. Compression was noted on all cylinders. The rocker covers were removed and movement tough out the valve train was noted. The engine was borescoped and it revealed that the # 2 cylinder rod cap was broken. The accessory case was removed to check the oil pump. No oil was found in the engine and the oil sump was dry. A visual examination of the airframe also failed to reveal oil deposits on the skin of the airplane. A review of the engine maintenance logbook revealed that the engine had been overhauled by a mechanic 426 hours before the accident. The annual airframe inspection was completed on April 21 2003. Review of the Cherokee 140 owner's handbook, section VI, Oil Requirements, states: The capacity of the O-320 series engine is 8 quarts, and the minimum safe quantity is 2 quarts. Section III, Preflight; states: 5c, (Check for obvious fuel or oil leaks.) 5d, (Check oil level, 8 quarts maximum.) The pilot did not report finding any problems with the airplane during his preflight. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N44541](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N44541-2017-07-20), registration cancelled 2017-07-20, S/N 28-7425424, built 1974 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-28-140 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-140](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-140) (registry code 7102802) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-7425424 - Airframe hours: 2200 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 SERIES 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Pigeon Holdings LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 1, 2003, 220 hours before - Departed: 3M8, REFORM, AL - Destination: MSL, Muscle Shoals, AL ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 45; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review September 5, 2002; seat: left; flight hours: 92 total, 14 in this make and model, 16 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 100° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: MSL, 3 nm away ## 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 20030605015429A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030605015429A), Jun 5, 2003: Piper PA28140, Hamilton, AL, Substantial damage. (-23) Enroute to muscle shoals ala. (MSL) from reform ala. (3M8) at 3000 feet, Mr. Richardson experienced loss of RPM. He turned toward Hamilton (hab) airport… 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.