# NTSB CHI89LA065: Piper PA-28-235, N55191, Monee, IL, March 31, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: March 30, 1989, 19:30 local (Mar 31, 1989, 01:30 UTC)
- Place: Monee, IL
- Location: 41.4180° N, 87.7504° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Monee, IL, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.4180&lon=-87.7504&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 10, 1991
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 14333
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI89LA065
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/14333/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI89LA065

## Probable cause

INADEQUATE MAINTENANCE/INSPECTION OF THE AIRCRAFT AFTER METAL FRAGMENTS WERE FOUND IN THE OIL, AND WORN CAM LOBES/FOLLOWERS/PISTON PIN PLUGS, WHICH RESULTED IN OIL CONTAMINATION, RESTRICTION (BLOCKAGE) IN THE OIL SYSTEM, OIL STARVATION, AND SUBSEQUENT ENGINE (CONNECTING ROD) FAILURE.  FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE:  DARK NIGHT, LACK OF RUNWAY LIGHTS AT THE NEARBY AIRPORT, AND A DITCH IN THE EMERGENCY LANDING AREA.

## 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, cruise - normal
  - maintenance,inspection - inadequate (cause)
  - engine assembly,camshaft - worn (cause)
  - engine assembly,piston - worn (cause)
  - fluid,oil - contamination (cause)
  - lubricating system - blocked(partial) (cause)
  - fluid,oil - starvation (cause)
  - engine assembly,connecting rod - failure,total (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - airport facilities,runway edge lights - not operating (contributing factor)
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - ditch (contributing factor)
- Gear collapsed, landing
  - landing gear,nose gear - overload

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N55191](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N55191), registered now, S/N 287310120 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-235
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-235](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-235) (registry code 7102810) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28-7310120
- Airframe hours: 980
- Engines: LYCOMING O-540-B4B5 235 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Registered owner: Lincoln Meat Company
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, May 25, 1988, 60 hours before
- Departed: 3HA, LANSING, IL

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 32; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 2,600 total, 40 in this make and model, 2,450 as pilot in command, 90 in the last 90 days, 35 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 70° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 36 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: GYY, 19 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 19890330005209A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890330005209A), Mar 30, 1989: Piper PA28235, Monee, IL, Substantial damage. Camshaft seized,engine tore up and failed. Struck a ditch on night forced landing. Pilot had noticed metal in oil.

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.

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