# NTSB CEN13LA111: Piper L-18C, N3134G, Graham, TX, December 19, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 19, 2012, 17:00 local (23:00 UTC) - Place: Graham, TX - Coordinates: 33.112499, -98.533889 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.1125&lon=-98.5339&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 13, 2014 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 85887 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN13LA111 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/85887/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=85887 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13LA111 ## 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 NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Engine (reciprocating): recip eng cyl section](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058530): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper L-18C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058530/cases.md?model=7101904), [All aircraft, 373 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058530/cases.md) - [Engine (reciprocating): recip eng oil sys](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058550): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper L-18C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058550/cases.md?model=7101904), [All aircraft, 130 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058550/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper L-18C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=7101904), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper L-18C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7101904), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## 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](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3134G), registered now, S/N 52-2419, built 1952 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER L-18C - Registry model: [Piper L-18C](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-l-18c) (registry code 7101904) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental C90 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c90-series) (registry code 17009, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 52-2419 - Airframe hours: 2987 - Engines: 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 ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 47; injuries: none; 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 ## 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 20121219027129A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20121219027129A), Dec 19, 2012: Piper L-18C, Graham, TX, Substantial damage. The aircraft took off from Graham Municipal Airport, Texas (krph) at approximately 1730 local on December 19, 2012. The aircraft lost oil pressure, followed by… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 19, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=85887. 1.4 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 814 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40398693&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Photo 1: Accident overview (item 2, .PDF, 617 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40397635&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%3A%20Accident%20overview-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.