# NTSB CEN10LA272: North American T-28A, N128AF, Oklahoma City, OK, May 27, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 27, 2010 - Place: Oklahoma City, OK - Coordinates: 35.601943, -97.706108 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.6019&lon=-97.7061&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern downwind: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 21, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 76141 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN10LA272 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/76141/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76141 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN10LA272 ## Probable cause The failure of the master rod bearing, which resulted in a loss of engine power. ## 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: [North American T-28A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058520/cases.md?model=6402504), [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. - [Approach-VFR pattern downwind: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) (defining event); cases with it: [North American T-28A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=6402504), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md) - [Landing: Landing area undershoot](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/370); cases with it: [North American T-28A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/370/sequence.md?model=6402504), [All aircraft, 201 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/370/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilots stated that they were flying in the traffic pattern when the airplane's engine started losing power. They were unable to reach the runway and landed short of the prepared surface. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the main landing gear had punctured both wings, damaging the spars, and two of the engine mounts had pulled loose from the firewall. Metal material was found in the outer casing of the oil filter. According to one of the airplane’s owners, the engine was later disassembled for salvage, and the master rod bearing was found to have failed. ## Factual narrative On May 27, 2010, about 2010 central daylight time, a North American T-28A airplane, N128AF, was substantially damaged following a loss of engine power and subsequent forced landing at Sundance Airpark (HSD), Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The commercial pilot and the certified flight instructor were not injured. The local, personal flight was being conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 without a flight plan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The pilots stated they were flying in the traffic pattern when the engine started losing power. They were unable to make the runway and landed short of the prepared surface. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed the main landing gear had punctured both wings, damaging the spars, and two engine mounts had pulled loose from the firewall. Fuel was found in both wings and the fuel selector was in the BOTH position. Metal material was found in the outer casing of the oil filter. According to one of the airplane’s owners, the engine was later disassembled for salvage and the master rod bearing was found failed and several of the cylinders had seized. According to maintenance records, the engine’s last major overhaul occurred on August 15, 1989. The last annual inspection occurred on December 5, 2009, at 77.7 hours time since major overhaul. According to the operator of the airplane, it had accumulated 99.9 hours time since major overhaul at the time of the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N128AF](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N128AF-2010-09-27), registration cancelled 2010-09-27, S/N 491619A, built 1949 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: NORTH AMERICAN T-28A - Registry model: [North American T-28A](https://openairdocs.org/model/north-american-t-28a) (registry code 6402504) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Wright R-1820-86](https://openairdocs.org/engine/wright-r-1820-86) (registry code 67200, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 491619A - Airframe hours: 1741 - Engines: WRIGHT C7BA SERIES 1475 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, December 5, 2009, 22 hours before - Departed: HSD, Oklahoma City, OK - Destination: HSD, Oklahoma City, OK - Airport: HSD, Sundance Airpark ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; injuries: none; private, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: front; flight hours: 6,100 total, 10 in this make and model - Flight instructor; age 48; injuries: none; flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; last flight review May 26, 2009; seat: front; flight hours: 12,100 total, 650 in this make and model, 9,000 as pilot in command, 50 in the last 90 days, 50 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 8° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 29.94 inHg - Observed at: PWA, 6 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 20100527005909A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100527005909A), May 27, 2010: North Ameri T-28A, Oklahoma City, OK, Substantial damage. Pilot stated aircraft had engine failure while on downwind to Sundance Airpark runway 35 at approx. 1000 ft AGL. And landed in wheat field south of airpark,… ## Other investigations on N128AF (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 SEA89LA058](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA89LA058), Mar 18, 1989: North American T-28A (N128AF), Jerome, ID, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE FAILURE OF ANOTHER PERSON TO REPORT A HARD LANDING WHICH RESULTED IN THE AIRPLANE NOT BEING INSPECTED BY AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL. ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 27, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76141. 3.8 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 542 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40331430&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Photo 1 - Wreckage (item 2, .PDF, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40366847&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20-%20Wreckage-Master.PDF - Photo 2 - Oil Filter Outer Casing (item 3, .PDF, 1.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40366848&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%20-%20Oil%20Filter%20Outer%20Casing-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.