# NTSB CEN10LA037: Piper PA-28-180, N8364W, Coldwater, MI, November 2, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: November 2, 2009, 14:03 local (19:03 UTC) - Place: Coldwater, MI - Coordinates: 41.933334, -85.052223 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.9333&lon=-85.0522&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: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report July 22, 2010 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA South Bend FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 74998 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN10LA037 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/74998/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74998 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN10LA037 ## Probable cause A loss of engine power due to the separation of the No. 4 piston connecting rod as a result of inadequate torque of the connecting rod bolt. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Engine (reciprocating): recip engine power section](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058520): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-180, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058520/cases.md?model=7102808), [All aircraft, 233 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058520/cases.md) - [Engine (reciprocating): recip engine power section](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058520): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Incorrect service/maintenance (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-180, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058520/cases.md?model=7102808), [All aircraft, 233 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058520/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-28-180, 37 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=7102808), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-180, 96 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7102808), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he was in cruise flight at 2,500 feet above mean sea level when the engine oil temperatures started to rise. He started to divert to a nearby airport, but the engine seized and he executed a forced landing to a field. The inspection of the engine revealed a hole in the crankcase at the #4 cylinder position. The #4 piston connecting rod was found disconnected from the crankshaft, and it was deformed and bent into a “U” shape. The #4 connecting rod cap was separated from the #4 connecting rod. One of the connecting rod bolts was found sheared in half with the nut still attached to one end of the bolt. The other connecting rod bolt was not located in the connecting rod or in the rod cap. A connecting rod bolt was found in the bottom of the engine. The bolt threads exhibited some impact damage, but otherwise, the connecting rod bolt was intact and was not bent. The nut for the connecting rod bolt was not located in the engine. The engine logbook indicated that four new pistons were installed on May 31, 2003. The logbook entry did not indicate that the connecting rods had been replaced. On May 1, 2007, the #4 cylinder was replaced, but there was no indication in the logbook entry that the #4 piston or connecting rod had been repaired or replaced. ## Factual narrative On November 2, 2009, at 1403 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-28-180, N8364W, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing to a field about 2 miles southeast of the Branch County Memorial Airport (EOB), Coldwater, Michigan. The airplane experienced a total loss of engine power when the engine seized during cruise flight at 2,500 feet above mean sea level (msl). The pilot, the sole occupant, received minor injuries. The 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 flight departed Pontiac, Michigan, about 1300 and was en route to Champaign, Illinois. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a visual flight rules (VFR) flight plan was filed. The pilot reported that while he was in cruise flight the oil temperature started rising so he decided to land at EOB. When he was about five miles from the airport, the engine started making noise and then the propeller “froze.” He executed a forced landing to a field and the airplane sustained substantial damage. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) airworthiness inspector examined the airplane. The engine was a 180 horsepower Lycoming O-360-A3A. A hole was observed on the top of the engine crankcase at the #4 cylinder position. The #4 cylinder was removed. The #4 piston connecting rod was found disconnected from the crankshaft, and it was deformed and bent into a “U” shape. The #4 connecting rod cap was separated from the #4 connecting rod. One of the connecting bolts was found sheared in half with the nut still attached to one end of the bolt. The other connecting rod bolt was not located in the connecting rod or in the rod cap. A connecting rod bolt was found in the bottom of the engine. The bolt threads exhibited some impact damage, but otherwise, the connecting rod bolt was intact and was not bent. The nut for the connecting rod bolt was not located in the engine. The connecting rod bolts for the #3 connecting rod and rod cap were found sheared in half, but the nuts were still attached to the connecting rod bolts. The engine logbook indicated that four new pistons were installed on May 31, 2003. The logbook entry did not indicate that the connecting rods had been replaced. On May 1, 2007, the #4 cylinder was replaced, but there was no indication in the logbook entry that the #4 piston or connecting rod had been repaired or replaced. On September 12, 2007, the #3 cylinder was replaced, but there was no indication in the logbook entry that the #3 piston or connecting rod had been repaired or replaced. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8364W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8364W-2017-07-12), registration cancelled 2017-07-12, S/N 28-2559, built 1965 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-180 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-180) (registry code 7102808) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-2559 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-A3A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Nicholas George Pathenos - Registered owner: Nicholas George Pathenos - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, December 20, 2008 - Departed: PTK, Pontiac, MI - Destination: CMI, Champagne, IL - Airport: EOB, Branch County Memorial Airport ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 53; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: unknown; seat: left; flight hours: 464 total, 464 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 230° at 14 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 52 °F, dew point 41 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg - Observed at: BTL, 24 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 20091102050769A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20091102050769A), Nov 2, 2009: Piper PA-28-180, Coldwater, MI, Substantial damage. Pilot was operating VFR enroute from ptk to cmi. Pilot stated that oil temp was high and then the engine failed. Pilot also stated aircraft was on a heading of… ## Docket (10 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 10, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74998. 4.2 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 885 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40329405&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Pilot Interview (item 2, .PDF, 28 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40329428&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Interview-Master.PDF - Engine Logbook Pages (item 3, .PDF, 222 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40329406&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Engine%20Logbook%20Pages-Redacted.PDF - Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 (item 4, .PDF, 42 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40329407&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Release%20of%20Aircraft%20Wreckage,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.15-Redacted.PDF - UPS Tracking Document (item 5, .PDF, 108 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40329409&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=UPS%20Tracking%20Document-Redacted.PDF - Photo 1. View of Accident Site (item 6, .PDF, 1.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40329410&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201.%20View%20of%20Accident%20Site-Master.PDF - Photo 2. Hole in Engine Crankcase (item 7, .PDF, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40329411&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202.%20Hole%20in%20Engine%20Crankcase-Master.PDF - Photo 3. #4 Connecting Rod and Rod End Cap (item 8, .PDF, 30 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40329412&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%203.%20%234%20Connecting%20Rod%20and%20Rod%20End%20Cap-Master.PDF - Photo 4. #4 Connecting Rod Bolts (item 9, .PDF, 36 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40329413&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%204.%20%234%20Connecting%20Rod%20Bolts-Master.PDF - Photo 5. #3 Connecting Rod End Caps and Bolts (item 10, .PDF, 33 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40329414&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%205.%20%233%20Connecting%20Rod%20End%20Caps%20and%20Bolts-Master.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.