# NTSB CHI90LA101: Piper PA-28R-200, N4490X, Monee, IL, March 23, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: March 22, 1990, 19:00 local (Mar 23, 1990, 01:00 UTC)
- Place: Monee, IL
- Coordinates: 41.419891, -87.749435 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.4199&lon=-87.7494&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 2 minor
- Status: Completed, report September 15, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 14647
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI90LA101
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/14647/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI90LA101

## Probable cause

ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO OIL STARVATION RESULTING FROM IMPROPER MAINTENANCE AND DIRECTIVE COMPLIANCE ASSOCIATED WITH THE FAILED PART.

## 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
  - single engine aircraft
  - maintenance,compliance with ad - improper, other maintenance personnel (cause)
  - propeller governor control - fractured (cause)
  - maintenance,overhaul,major - improper, other maintenance personnel (cause)
  - fluid,oil - exhaustion (cause)
  - engine assembly - seized
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- Complete gear collapsed, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - none suitable

## Analysis

INSTRUCTOR PILOT AND PRIVATE PILOT RATED STUDENT WERE ON AN INSTRUMENT CROSS COUNTRY TRAINING FLIGHT. PILOT EXPERIENCED ENGINE RPM SURGE OVER RED LINE, FOLLOWED IMMEDIATELY BY SMOKE IN COCKPIT, AND OIL STREAMING OVER WINDSHIELD. PILOT REDUCED POWER, DECLARED EMERGENCY, AND ATC PROVIDED WIND STEER TO NEAREST AIRPORT. ENGINE SEIZED BEFORE PILOT MADE AIRPORT. PILOT EXECUTED FORCED LANDING IN SOFT FARMER'S FIELD. ALL LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED ON ROLLOUT. AIRCRAFT SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED, BOTH PIOTS RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES. INVESTIGATION REVEALED PROP GOVERNOR OIL LINE FRACTURED AT FORWARD ATTACHMENT NUT, AND BROKEN FORWARD OIL LINE SUPPORT CLAMP. AFT OIL LINE SUPPORT CLAMP WAS MISSING. MAINTENANCE RECORDS INDICATE AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE PERTAINING TOINSTALLATION AND END FITTINGS OF PROP GOVERNOR OIL LINE COMPLIED WITH 14 FLIGHT HOURS BEFORE MISHAP.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4490X](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4490X-1991-10-18), registration cancelled 1991-10-18, S/N 28R7635057 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28R-200
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28R-200](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28r-200) (registry code 7102811) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28R-7635057
- Airframe hours: 4288
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-C1C 200 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Griffith Aviation, doing business as Griffith Aviation
- Registered owner: Great Northern Aircraft Sales
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, March 14, 1990, 14 hours before
- Departed: 05C, GRIFFITH, IN
- Destination: IND, INDIANAPOLIS, IN
- Flight plan: IFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 37; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 1,495 total, 198 in this make and model, 1,363 as pilot in command, 52 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 290° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 2,200 ft broken
- Temperature: 48 °F, dew point 36 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: GYY, 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 19900322005029A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900322005029A), Mar 22, 1990: Piper PA28R200, Monee, IL, Substantial damage. Prop governor oil line fractured. Had prop overspeed,smoke and oil on windshield,engine seized. Improper installed.

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.