- Date
- July 2, 2003, 10:08 local (15:08 UTC)
- Place
- Winamac, IN
- Injuries
- 5 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N6315PPiper PA-24
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report March 2, 2004
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- FAA- South Bend FSDO
- FAA report
- 20030702028889A
- Case key
- 57378
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 the improper installation of the crankshaft gear due to the omission of the retaining bolt and subsequent shear failure of the anti-rotation pin. The unsuitable terrain encountered, and the rough field were factors.
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
The airplane was damaged during a forced landing in a rough plowed field following a loss of engine power during cruise flight. Examination of the engine revealed that the crankshaft gear retaining bolt was missing and the gear's anti-rotation pin was sheared. The oil pan of the engine was examined and no bolt was found. The crankshaft gear retaining bolt was not found within the engine. A review of the maintenance records revealed that the engine was last overhauled on April 6, 1986, and had accumulated 522 hours time in service since the overhaul. No subsequent logbook entries were noted that indicated removal of the crankshaft gear or retaining bolt.
Factual narrative
On July 2, 2003, at 1008 central daylight time, a Piper PA-24, N6315P, piloted by an airline transport pilot, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing following an in-flight loss of engine power near Winamac, Indiana. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The pilot and his four passengers reported no injuries. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight was operating on an IFR flight plan. The flight departed from Plymouth, Michigan, at 0819, with an intended destination of Perryville, Missouri.
The airplane's engine stopped producing power during cruise flight. The pilot was given radar vectors to the Arens Field Airport (RWN), Winamac, Indiana. The pilot was not able to reach RWN and executed a forced landing in a rough plowed field.
A postaccident examination was conducted by the Federal Aviation Administration. During the initial examination of the airplane's engine, valve train continuity could not be established. Rotation of the crankshaft produced no movement of the valve train components. A subsequent examination of the accessory section of the engine revealed that the crankshaft gear retaining bolt was missing and the gear's anti-rotation pin was sheared. The oil pan of the engine was examined and no bolt was found. The crankshaft gear retaining bolt was not found within the engine.
A review of the maintenance records revealed that the engine was last overhauled on April 6, 1986, and had accumulated 522 hours time in service since the overhaul. No subsequent logbook entries were noted that indicated removal of the crankshaft gear or retaining bolt.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N6315P
- Reported as
- Piper PA-24
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 24-1425
- Airframe hours
- 3,552
- Engine
- Lycoming O-360, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · November 19, 2002 · 121 hours before
- Departed
- 1D2 · Plymouth, MI
- Destination
- K02 · Perryville, MO
- Flight plan
- IFR
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
- 30
- Injuries
- None
- Certificates
- Flight instructor, Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Last flight review
- February 26, 2003
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 2,895 total · 56 in this make and model · 2,492 as pilot in command · 152 in the last 90 days · 67 in the last 30 days · 5 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 20° at 3 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 81 °F, dew point 59 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.95 inHg
- Observed at
- VPZ, 28 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.