# NTSB ATL88FA110: Piper PA-32R-300, N8727E, Rock Hill, SC, March 12, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: March 12, 1988, 13:29 local (18:29 UTC)
- Place: Rock Hill, SC
- Location: 34.9249° N, 81.0251° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Rock Hill, SC, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.9249&lon=-81.0251&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 2 serious
- Status: Completed, report July 21, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 7590
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL88FA110
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/7590/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL88FA110

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power(total) - mech failure/malf, cruise
  - lubricating system,oil line - loose (cause)
  - maintenance,installation - improper, company maintenance personnel (cause)
  - fluid,oil - loss,total (cause)
  - maintenance,inspection - inadequate, company maintenance personnel (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- Nose over, landing
  - terrain condition - open field
  - emergency procedure - not followed, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - altitude - misjudged, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - airspeed - excessive, pilot in command (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE PLT AND A CERTIFICATED PILOT/PAX DEPARTED THE ROCK HILL APT FOR A LOCAL MAINT TEST FLT FOLLOWING AN ENGINE OVERHAUL AND INSTALLATION. ABOUT 10 MINUTES INTO THE FLT, THE ENGINE OIL PRESSURE DROPPED TO ZERO AND A COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER FOLLOWED. THE PLT RADIOED THE INFORMATION TO THE DEPARTURE ARPT AND ATTEMPTED A FORCED LANDING IN A LARGE PASTURE WITH FENCES. THE FIRST TOUCHDOWN WAS ABOUT 1746 FT PAST A TREE LINE AT THE EDGE OF THE FIELD. THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH AN EARTH MOUND 961 FT PAST THE FIRST TOUCHDOWN POINT, ROLLED INVERTED AND COLLIDED WITH THE TERRAIN 300 FT PAST THE EARTH MOUND. TOTAL DISTANCE BETWEEN THE TREE LINE AT THE EDGE OF THE FIELDS AND THE STOPPING POINT WAS ABOUT 3,091 FT. THE LATTER PORTION OF THE PATH WAS MORE STEEPLY DOWNSLOPING THAN THE FIRST 2,150 FT. POST ACC EXAM REVEALED AN OIL LINE WHICH SHOWED EVIDENCE OF NOT HAVING BEEN PROPERLY CONNECTED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8727E](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8727E-2013-07-29), registration cancelled 2013-07-29, S/N 32R-7680162, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32R-300
- Registry model: [Piper PA-32R-300](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32r-300) (registry code 7103213) (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: 32R-7680162
- Airframe hours: 1931
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-540-K1G5D 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Part 91
- Operator: Card Wings Flight Service
- Registered owner: Charles M. Burdette
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, July 14, 1987, 23 hours before
- Departed: 29J, ROCK HILL, SC

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 33; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 1,855 total, 390 in this make and model, 1,743 as pilot in command, 73 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 230° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 3,500 ft broken
- Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 48 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: CLT, 16 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 19880312005179A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880312005179A), Mar 12, 1988: Piper PA32R300, Rock Hill, SC, Destroyed. On engine test, oil line came off. Lost oil and threw a rod. Pilot mismanaged forced landing. Overshot and crashed.

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.

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