# NTSB CHI86FA111: Piper PA-46-310P, N4380A, Evanston, IL, December 12, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: December 12, 1985, 09:30 local (15:30 UTC)
- Place: Evanston, IL
- Location: 42.0464° N, 87.6944° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Evanston, IL, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.0464&lon=-87.6944&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 13251
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI86FA111
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/13251/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI86FA111

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power(total) - mech failure/malf, climb - to cruise
  - engine assembly,crankshaft - fatigue (cause)
  - engine assembly,crankshaft - failure,total (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- Ditching, landing - flare/touchdown

## Analysis

THE AIRCRAFT WAS ON CLIMBOUT ON AN IFR FLIGHT PLAN IN VMC CONDITIONS WHEN THE ENGINE FAILED. A RESTART WAS ATTEMPTED AND THE ENGINE RAN FOR A MINUTE OR LESS. SUBSEQUENT ATTEMPTS WERE UNSUCCESSFUL. THE AIRCRAFT WAS OVER LAKE MICHIGAN AND HAD INSUFFICIENT ALTITUDE TO REACH THE SHORELINE. A SUCCESSFUL WATER LANDING WAS MADE AND THE OCCUPANTS WERE PICKED UP BY THE COAST GUARD UNHARMED. SUBSEQUENT EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED THAT THE CRANKSHAFT HAD FRACTURED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N4380A (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-46-310P
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 468508016
- Airframe hours: 478
- Engines: CONTINENTAL TSIO-520-BE 310 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Operator: Plane Masters
- Registered owner: Theodore J. Adams
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, November 13, 1985, 55 hours before
- Departed: DPA, WEST CHICAGO, IL
- Destination: 7D2, TROY, MI
- Flight plan: IFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 39; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 1,890 total, 16 in this make and model, 1,801 as pilot in command, 67 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 270° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 16 °F, dew point 9 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: NBU, 10 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 19851212072839A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19851212072839A), Dec 12, 1985: Piper PA46310P, Evanston, IL, Destroyed. The engine failed. The pilot ditched the aircraft in a lake. The crankshaft was found cracked from fatigue.

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.