# NTSB ATL95LA094: Piper PA-23-160, N4300Y, Dayton, TN, May 6, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 5, 1995, 23:15 local (May 6, 1995, 03:15 UTC) - Place: Dayton, TN - Coordinates: 35.490329, -85.010879 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.4903&lon=-85.0109&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 31, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 3558 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL95LA094 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/3558/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL95LA094 ## Probable cause INSTALLATION OF AN IMPROPER CRANKSHAFT OIL SEAL WHICH EVENTUALLY SEPARATED FROM ITS SEAT RESULTING IN EXCESSIVE OIL LOSS, AND THE PILOT'S IMPROPER INFLIGHT PLANNING IN THAT HE DID NOT ALLOW SUFFICIENT TIME TO LOWER THE LANDING GEAR. ## 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 - 1 engine (cause) - fluid,oil - leak (cause) - maintenance,service of aircraft/equipment - improper, other maintenance personnel (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, go-around (vfr) - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE WAS IN CRUISE FLIGHT WHEN THE LEFT ENGINE BEGAN TO LOSE OIL PRESSURE. HE WAS GIVEN VECTORS TO THE NEAREST AIRPORT. THE LEFT ENGINE WAS RUNNING INCREASINGLY ROUGH, THEREFORE, THE PILOT SHUT THE ENGINE DOWN WHILE ON FINAL FOR RUNWAY 3. THE PILOT REALIZED THAT HE WOULD NEED TO MANUALLY EXTEND THE LANDING GEAR, HOWEVER, HE DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO DO SO, AND ATTEMPTED A GO-AROUND. THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH THE TERRAIN PAST THE RUNWAY. AN INSPECTION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED THAT THE ENGINE LOST OIL BECAUSE THE CRANKSHAFT OIL SEAL HAD COME OUT OF THE CRANKCASE BORE, AND HAD MOVED FORWARD ON THE CRANKSHAFT. INSPECTION OF THE OIL SEAL REVEALED THAT IT WAS A 'LIPPED' SEAL WHICH WAS NOT AN APPROVED SEAL FOR THIS CRANKCASE. ## Factual narrative On May 5, 1995, at 2315 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-23-160, N4300Y, collided with terrain during an emergency landing at the Mark Anton Airport, in Dayton, Tennessee. The commercial pilot had serious injuries, his passenger was uninjured. The aircraft was destroyed by the impact forces and fire. The aircraft was operated under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91 by Spirit Aviation, Inc., of Bunnell, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions existed at the time of the accident, and an instrument flight rules flight plan was filed for the personal flight to Chamblee, Georgia. The flight originated from Louisville, Kentucky, at 2140 on the same day. The pilot reported that he was in cruise flight when the left engine began to lose oil pressure. He requested assistance from Air Traffic Control, and received vectors to the Mark Anton Airport. The left engine was running increasingly rough, therefore, while on final for runway 3, the pilot shut the left engine down. The pilot attempted to extend the landing gear, however, he was unaware that the landing gear would have to be extended manually. The pilot began to manually extend the landing gear but could not get the gear down in time to land on the runway. The pilot reported that he attempted to make a go-around, however, the climb performance with only one engine was insufficient. The aircraft collided with terrain and caught fire. An inspection of the engine revealed that there was a significant loss of engine oil. The crankshaft oil seal had come out of the crankshaft bore, and had moved forward on the crankshaft. An inspection of the oil seal revealed that it was a "lipped" seal, which was not approved for this type of crankcase. Also, the engine manufacturer's representative reported that the sealant applied to the seal surface was not of a approved type. Aircraft maintenance records show that the crankshaft seal had been removed and replaced two months prior to the accident during the latest annual inspection. The aircraft had flown 48 hours since the maintenance work was conducted. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4300Y](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4300Y-1995-11-20), registration cancelled 1995-11-20, S/N 232023 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-23-160 - Registry model: [Piper PA-23-160](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-23-160) (registry code 7102304) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 23-2033 - Airframe hours: 6970 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320-B3B 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Spirit Aviation, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 19, 1995, 48 hours before - Departed: LOU, LOUISVILLE, KY - Destination: PDK, CHAMBLEE, GA - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: 2A0, Mark Anton Airport, runway 3, 4,500 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 34; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 760 total, 14 in this make and model, 647 as pilot in command, 40 in the last 90 days, 40 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 50 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: CHA, 30 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 19950505009769A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950505009769A), May 5, 1995: Piper PA23160, Dayton, TN, Destroyed. Left engine loosing oil. Vectered to 2AO. Cut left engine on fina. Unable gear or go around. Crank seal came out. ## Other investigations on N4300Y (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 MIA66F0216](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA66F0216), Aug 25, 1965: Piper PA-23 (N4300Y), Mobile, AL, substantial damage 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.