- Date
- December 19, 2012, 17:00 local (23:00 UTC)
- Place
- Graham, TX
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N3134GPiper L-18C
- Defining event
- Enroute: Loss of engine power (total)
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report January 13, 2014
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Central Region
- Parties
- FAA
- FAA report
- 20121219027129A
- Case key
- 85887
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The failure of an engine connecting rod and the subsequent loss of oil pressure, which resulted in a total loss of engine power.
Findings · 2
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The pilot was returning to the airport when the engine experienced a total loss of power. As the pilot maneuvered to perform a forced landing, the engine seized and the propeller stopped. The airplane landed hard, bounced, and nosed over, coming to rest inverted. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings and rudder. An examination of the engine revealed that a connecting rod failed and broke through the crankcase, which resulted in a loss of oil and the subsequent loss of engine power. The reason for the failure of the connecting rod could not be determined.
Factual narrative
On December 19, 2012, about 1700 central standard time, a Piper L-18C airplane, N3134G, was substantially damaged during a forced landing near Graham, Texas. The private pilot and passenger were not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by a private individual under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which operated without a flight plan. The local flight originated from the Graham Municipal Airport (KRPH), Graham, Texas, about 1600. According to a statement provided by the pilot, when returning to the airport, he noted that the engine's oil pressure went to zero, the rpms began to reduce, and the engine power decreased. As the pilot maneuvered to perform a forced landing, the engine seized and the propeller stopped. The airplane landed hard, bounced, and nosed over, coming to rest in the inverted position. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings and rudder. An examination of the engine revealed a broken connecting rod and damage to the engine case. The reason for the failure of the connecting rod could not be determined.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N3134G
- Reported as
- Piper L-18C
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 52-2419
- Airframe hours
- 2,987
- Engine
- Cont Motor C90-12F, 95 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Fire
- On-Ground
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · December 1, 2012 · 104 hours before
- Departed
- KRPH · Graham, TX
- Destination
- KRPH · Graham, TX
- Airport
- KRPH · Graham Municipal
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 47
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- January 29, 2011
- Seat
- Front
- Flight hours
- 2,500 total · 1,000 in this make and model · 60 in the last 90 days · 10 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 200° at 7 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 72 °F, dew point 41 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.56 inHg
- Observed at
- KRPH, 2 nm away
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 19, 2013, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 1.4 MB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.