# NTSB CEN17LA010: Piper PA 28-180, N5196L, Clarendon, TX, October 2, 2016 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 2, 2016, 15:20 local (20:20 UTC) - Place: Clarendon, TX - Coordinates: 34.949443, -100.878051 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.9494&lon=-100.8781&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: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report October 17, 2017 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 94149 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN17LA010 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/94149/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94149 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN17LA010 ## Probable cause The failure of a cylinder piston pin, which resulted in an obstructed oil inlet screen, reduced the amount of oil available to the engine, and led to the subsequent loss of engine power. Contributing to the accident was the failure of the nonmechanic, who had recently changed the oil and oil filter, to recognize that metal in the filter was indicative of a problem. ## 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) - [Fluids: oil](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071020): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid level (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-180, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071020/cases.md?model=7102808), [All aircraft, 174 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071020/cases.md) - [Maintenance: scheduled/routine maintenance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062010): Personnel issues › Task performance · Other (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-180, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062010/cases.md?model=7102808), [All aircraft, 320 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062010/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-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) ## Analysis The student pilot was conducting a cross-country personal flight. The student pilot reported that, while in cruise flight, the single-engine airplane lost power. He then performed a forced landing to a field, during which the wings and firewall were damaged. Examination of the engine revealed damage consistent with lubrication distress. Further, a cylinder piston pin was found broken, and metal was found in the oil pickup screen and in the oil filter, which had recently been changed. It is likely that the degraded piston pin was the source of the metal in the oil, which clogged the oil inlet screen and reduced the amount of oil available to the engine and resulted in the loss of engine power. A nonmechanic had performed preventative maintenance and changed the oil and oil filter shortly before the accident. He reported that he noticed the metal in the filter but did not consider it to be an indication of a problem. ## Factual narrative On October 2, 2016, about 1520 central daylight time, a Piper PA-28-180 airplane, N5196L, was damaged during a forced landing near Clarendon, Texas. The student rated pilot sustained minor injuries and the airplane was substantially damaged. The airplane was to Tohijoco LLC and operated by Coyote Flight under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight which operated under visual flight rules flight following. The cross-country flight departed the Rick Husband Amarillo International Airport (AMA), Amarillo, Texas, at 1405 and was en route to the Childress Municipal Airport (CDS), Childress, Texas.The pilot reported to the responding FAA inspector that while in cruise flight the engine lost power and he performed a forced landing to a field. During the landing, the airplane's wings and firewall were damaged. The airplane was transported to the operator's facility for an examination. The engine was examined under the auspices of an Federal Aviation Administration inspector. The examination noted damage to the engine was consistent with lubrication distress. Further examination of the engine found the metal oil screen pickup fouled with metal. The source of the metal was from a broken piston pin. During the examination, it was discovered that the engine's oil and oil filter had recently been changed. The oil filter, which had been removed, was examined and metal was found in the filter. A non-mechanic rated person performed preventative maintenance, changed the oil and oil filter prior to the accident. During the oil change, he noticed the metal, but did not consider this to be an indication of a problem. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5196L](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5196L-2018-08-14), registration cancelled 2018-08-14, S/N 28-4486, built 1967 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA 28-180 (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: 28-4486 - Year built: 1967 - Engines: LYCOMING O-360 SER 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Coyote Flight - Registered owner: Tohijoco LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: AMA, AMARILLO, TX - Destination: CDS, CHILDRESS, TX - Flight plan: VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 34; injuries: minor; student; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 160° at 18 knots, gusting 26 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 86 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: KAMA, 44 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 20161002016159A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20161002016159A), Oct 2, 2016: Piper PA-28-180, Clarendon, TX, Substantial damage. On October 2, 2016 at approximately 1400 CDT, N5196Z, a Piper PA-28-180 was substantially damaged after an engine failure. The failure resulted in a forced off… ## Other investigations on N5196L (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 MKC69D0338](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC69D0338), Dec 6, 1968: Piper PA-28 (N5196L), Brookfield, MO, substantial damage ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 30, 2017, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94149. 95 KB in all. - FAA Inspector Record of Conversation (item 1, .PDF, 95 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40455697&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%20Record%20of%20Conversation-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.