# NTSB CHI00LA286: Piper PA-32R-300, N8304C, Mason City, IA, September 1, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 1, 2000, 11:10 local (16:10 UTC) - Place: Mason City, IA - Coordinates: 43.15023, -93.190071 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.1502&lon=-93.1901&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 9, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 50277 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI00LA286 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/50277/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI00LA286 ## Probable cause the unsuitable terrain for landing encountered by the pilot and the failure of the oil filter converter plate gasket. Factors to the accident were the total loss of oil and the soft terrain condition. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, cruise - lubricating system,oil gasket - failure (cause) - fluid,oil - loss,total (contributing factor) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - terrain condition - soft (contributing factor) - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - encountered, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis During cruise flight the engine oil pressure dropped to zero and the engine began to vibrate. The pilot elected to shut-down the engine and perform a forced landing to a near by soy bean field. During the landing the left main and nose gear collapsed when they came into contact with the soft terrain. Post-accident investigation revealed that the oil filter base-gasket had become extruded from its seat, allowing engine oil to leak out of the engine. Textron Lycoming Engines, Williamsport, Pennsylvania, issued a Mandatory Service Bulletin, number 543A, the day prior to the accident. The service bulletin stated, "Textron Lycoming has received reports indicating that operation at high oil temperatures can cause the converter plate gasket on the oil filter base to become extruded from its seat, allowing oil to leak out between the plate and the accessory housing." The service bulletin called for the removal and replacement of the converter plate gasket at every 50-hour oil change. ## Factual narrative On September 1, 2000, at 1110 central daylight time, a Piper PA-32R-300, N8304C, operated by Safewing Aviation Company, Kansas City, Missouri, sustained substantial damage during landing following a loss of engine power and subsequent forced landing near Mason City, Iowa. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The cargo flight was operating under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 135 and was on an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan. The pilot, the sole occupant, reported no injuries. The flight departed Algona Municipal Airport, Algona, Iowa, at 1050. According to the pilot's written statement, "I departed AXA [Algona Municipal Airport] at 10:50 and was cruising at 4000 ft. [feet] 15 miles west of MCW [Mason City Municipal Airport] when the oil pressure dropped below 0 [zero]. The engine started vibrating so I shut it down and proceeded to set myself up for an emergency landing." The pilot reported, "I turned into the wind and aligned myself with a soy bean field. On impact the left main gear collapsed, also the nose gear, the left wing was bent backward a few inches. The soy bean field was muddy since it had been raining earlier." Post-accident investigation revealed that the oil filter base-gasket had become extruded from its seat, allowing engine oil to leak out of the engine. Textron Lycoming Engines, Williamsport, Pennsylvania, issued a Mandatory Service Bulletin, number 543A, on August 30, 2000. The service bulletin stated, "Textron Lycoming has received reports indicating that operation at high oil temperatures can cause the converter plate gasket on the oil filter base to become extruded from its seat, allowing oil to leak out between the plate and the accessory housing." The service bulletin called for the removal and replacement of the converter plate gasket at every 50-hour oil change. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8304C](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8304C-2010-04-01), registration cancelled 2010-04-01, S/N 32R-7680091, built 1975 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-32R-300 - Registry model: [Piper PA-32R-300](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32r-300) (registry code 7103213) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming TI0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (registry code 41533, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 32R-7680091 - Airframe hours: 8461 - Engines: Lycoming IO-540-K1A5D 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 135 - Registered owner: Delta Sales Company - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, August 20, 2000, 51 hours before - Departed: AXA, ALGONA, IA - Destination: MCW - Flight plan: IFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 31; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 1,800 total, 1,000 in this make and model, 1,650 as pilot in command, 160 in the last 90 days, 75 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 360° at 15 knots - Visibility: 6 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 6,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 147 °F, dew point 145 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: MCW, 90 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 20000901009569A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000901009569A), Sep 1, 2000: Piper PA32R300, Garner, IA, No damage. (-23) Piolot was enroute to mason city, Iowa airport about 14 miles west and at 4,000 feet, the a/c began to vibrate, low oil pressure was experienced and… 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.