- Date
- March 31, 2002, 16:55 local (21:55 UTC)
- Place
- Fulton, IN
- Injuries
- 4 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N9060WPiper PA-28-235
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report May 13, 2003
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- Federal Aviation Administration - South Bend FSDO
- FAA report
- 20020331010869A
- Case key
- 54540
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
A loss of engine power due to excessive clearance of the connecting rod bearing resulting in engine seizure. A related factor was the muddy field.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
While in cruise flight there was a loss of oil pressure resulting in a loss of engine power and seizure of the engine crankshaft. The airplane was damaged during a forced landing into a muddy agricultural field. Post-accident investigation of the engine revealed the number 5 connecting rod bearing had excessive clearance.
Factual narrative
On March 31, 2002, at 1655 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-28-235, N9060W, piloted by a private pilot, was substantially damaged during a forced landing near Fulton, Indiana. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The flight was operating under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91 without a flight plan. The pilot and his three passengers did not report any injuries. The flight departed the Randolph County Airport, Winchester, Indiana, at 1600 and the intended destination was the Gary/Chicago Airport, Gary, Indiana.
According to the pilot's written statement, while in cruise flight the constant speed propeller "surged" twice. The pilot reported, "Checked engine gages and noticed [zero] oil pressure." The pilot stated he was using flight following and requested a vector to the nearest airport, which was Fulton County Airport (RCR). The pilot stated he was unable to reach RCR, turned into the wind, and began to look for a field or road to land on. The pilot reported, "Engine began to 'clatter'. Had already reduced throttle to 1/2 and now reduced to idle." The pilot stated that between 500 and 600 feet above ground level (agl) the engine lost complete power. The pilot reported, "Altitude loss became excessive ([approximately] 1,600 feet per min) Pitched down steeply to recover maneuvering speed. Flew between trees in fencerow and landed in muddy corn field [approximately] 150 [feet] from fencerow. Slid sideways [approximately] 125 feet to stop."
Post-accident investigation of the engine revealed the number 5 connecting rod bearing had excessive clearance.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N9060W
- Reported as
- Piper PA-28-235
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 28-10655
- Airframe hours
- 2,490
- Engine
- Textron Lycoming O-540, 235 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Fred Leonard Ruhe
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · August 1, 2001 · 40 hours before
- Departed
- I22 · Winchester, IN
- Destination
- GYY · Gary, IN
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
- 63
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Last flight review
- June 30, 2000
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 3,150 total · 250 in this make and model · 2,575 as pilot in command · 90 in the last 90 days · 34 in the last 30 days · 3 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 270° at 12 knots
- Visibility
- 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 4,000 ft broken
- Temperature
- 48 °F, dew point 34 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.95 inHg
- Observed at
- GUS, 13 nm away
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 25, 2003, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 489 KB 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.
Other investigations on N9060W · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.