# NTSB CEN15LA157: Piper PA 28R-200, N2837R, Frankenmuth, MI, February 27, 2015 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 27, 2015, 14:19 local (19:19 UTC) - Place: Frankenmuth, MI - Coordinates: 43.259998, -83.660003 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.2600&lon=-83.6600&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 August 25, 2015 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 90797 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN15LA157 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/90797/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90797 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN15LA157 ## Probable cause The failure of the engine due to a lack of oil lubrication for reasons that could not be determined during postaccident examinations. ## 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-28R-200, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058520/cases.md?model=7102811), [All aircraft, 233 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058520/cases.md) - [Fluids: oil](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071020): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid level (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28R-200, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071020/cases.md?model=7102811), [All aircraft, 174 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071020/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 PA-28R-200, 32 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=7102811), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490); cases with it: [Piper PA-28R-200, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=7102811), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, during climbout on the return leg of an out-and-back flight, he noticed the engine hesitate for 1 or 2 seconds and then recover to normal operation. The pilot continued climbing the airplane and proceeded toward his home airport. While approaching the airport, the engine made abnormal noises, followed by a total loss of power. The pilot then executed a forced landing into a field. Postaccident examinations of the engine revealed that it had a very low quantity of oil; however, no visible evidence of oil loss or indication of excess oil consumption was found. A teardown examination of the engine revealed that all four piston connecting rods had failed. The failure signatures were consistent with a lack of lubrication. Based on the evidence, it is likely that the engine failed due to a lack of oil lubrication; however, the reason for the lack of oil could not be determined. ## Factual narrative On February 27, 2015, about 1419 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-28R-200 airplane, N2837R, was substantially damaged during a forced landing near Frankenmuth, Michigan. The 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. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, with no flight plan filed. The out-and-back flight to Flint, Michigan, originated from the Saginaw County Airport (HYX), Saginaw, Michigan, about 1300. During departure climb from Bishop International Airport (FNT), Flint, Michigan, the pilot noticed the engine hesitate for one or two seconds and then recover to normal operation. The pilot continued the climb and proceeded towards HYX. Approaching HYX, the engine started to make abnormal noises, followed by a total loss of power. The pilot executed a forced landing into a snow-covered field, during which both wings were damaged. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) personnel responded to the accident site and measured engine oil quantity at two quarts on the dipstick. A subsequent FAA teardown examination of the engine revealed a failure of all four piston connecting rods, with heat-related damage to all four cylinders. Engine failure signatures were consistent with a lack of lubrication. No visible oil loss or indication of excess oil consumption was observed at the accident site or during the teardown examination. The last engine oil change occurred on October 20, 2014. Following this oil change, seven flights totaling 12.8 hours were recorded prior to the accident flight. Records indicated that no oil was added prior to or after these flights. When interviewed by the FAA, the pilot stated that he noted slightly less than 8 quarts of oil during the preflight for the accident flight. The pilot stated that his habit was to check the engine oil temperature and pressure instruments during warm up and the pre-takeoff run up, but not during flight. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2837R](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2837R-2015-09-28), registration cancelled 2015-09-28, S/N 28R-35303, built 1969 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA 28R-200 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28R-200](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28r-200) (registry code 7102811) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28R-35303 - Year built: 1969 - Airframe hours: 5064 - Engines: LYCOMING IO360 SER 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Nightingale Charles H - Registered owner: Nightingale Charles H - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 7, 2014 - Departed: FNT, Flint, MI - Destination: HYX, Saginaw, MI ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 40; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review August 22, 2014; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 219 total, 134 in this make and model, 178 as pilot in command, 6 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 200° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 14 °F, dew point 1 °F - Altimeter: 30.54 inHg - Observed at: KHYX, 14 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 20150227002619A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150227002619A), Feb 27, 2015: Piper PA-28R-200, Vassar, MI, Substantial damage. Pilot had flown approximately 1 hr prior to accident, with practice approaches and touch-and-go landings at 2 airports. After leveling at 3,000' MSL, engine… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 11, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90797. 2.1 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40427760&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Aircraft Flight Log (item 2, .PDF, 444 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40427740&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Aircraft%20Flight%20Log-Redacted.PDF - Engine Log (item 3, .PDF, 188 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40427761&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Engine%20Log-Redacted.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.