- Date
- November 14, 1994, 18:20 local (Nov 15, 1994, 00:20 UTC)
- Place
- Carlock, IL
- Injuries
- 2 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N7556WPiper PA-28-180
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Night/dark
- Status
- Completed · report April 5, 1995
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19941114038229A
- Case key
- 9801
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
The total failure of the connecting rod bolts.
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 experienced a total loss of power during level cruise flight. An off airport forced landing was made, the airplane rolled out into a tree line at the end of the landing field. The on-scene investigation revealed failed number two cylinder connecting rod bolts and a hole in the engine's case top near the number two cylinder tappet position. The engine had been overhauled about 21 years before the accident.
Factual narrative
On November 14, 1994, at 1820 central standard time (cst), a Piper PA-28-180, N7556W, registered to Howard Samuelson of Orland Park, Illinois, and piloted by a commercially certificated flight instructor, was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a total loss of engine power. The 14 CFR Part 91 instructional flight was not operating on a flight plan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The instructor and student pilot reported minor injuries. The flight departed Peoria, Illinois, at 1800 CST.
According to the student pilot and owner of the airplane, the airplane was in level cruise flight when the engine's oil pressure went to "0" indicated pressure. He said the instructor declared an emergency and landed in a soy bean field. During the landing roll, the airplane collided with trees that bordered the field's edge. The instructor's statement confirmed the student/owner's statement, adding that the engine ran for an unspecified time after the oil pressure went to "0."
The on-scene investigation revealed that the engine's number two cylinder connecting rod bolts had failed. Connecting rod components forced a hole into the engine's case top near the number two cylinder tappet position. The connecting rod bolt that was retrieved had necked fracture ends. The surfaces of both fractures had a grainy appearance with many impact marks on them. The camshaft's number two cylinder intake lobe was round and had machining marks on its surface. Examination of the engine oil pump revealed its screen was contaminated with metal particles. The oil sump was contaminated with metal pieces that were similar to bearing parts. Approximately two quarts of oil was found in the sump.
Examination of the airplane's powerplant logbook revealed the engine had been overhauled approximately 21 years before the accident.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N7556W
- Reported as
- Piper PA-28-180
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 1495
- Airframe hours
- 3,632
- Engine
- Lycoming O-360-A3A, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Howard Samuelson
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · April 23, 1994 · 72 hours before
- Departed
- PIA · Peoria, IL
- Destination
- IKK · Kankakee, IL
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
- 33
- Certificates
- Commercial, Flight instructor
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Right
- Flight hours
- 1,600 total · 50 in this make and model · 1,400 as pilot in command · 10 in the last 90 days · 3 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Night/dark
- Wind
- 240° at 10 knots
- Visibility
- 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 8,000 ft broken
- Temperature
- 48 °F, dew point 43 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- BMI
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.