# NTSB CHI98LA279: Piper PA-22, N875A, Muskegon, MI, July 27, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 27, 1998, 09:23 local (13:23 UTC) - Place: Muskegon, MI - Coordinates: 43.240924, -86.249519 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.2409&lon=-86.2495&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 15, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 43106 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI98LA279 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/43106/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI98LA279 ## Probable cause A loss of engine power due to a broken number 4 cylinder connecting rod for undetermined reasons. Contributing to this accident was the road embankment. ## 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 - engine assembly,connecting rod - fractured (cause) - fluid,oil - exhaustion (cause) - engine assembly,crankcase - fractured - Forced landing, descent - emergency - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - emergency - terrain condition - drop-off/descending embankment (contributing factor) ## Analysis The airplane was in cruise flight, just over Lake Michigan, when the pilot felt the engine's power 'sag for just an instant and then engine noises started.' The 'noises' were 'light at first' and then increased in volume. Then the engine began to shake violently, eventually shaking the entire airframe. The pilot shut down the engine and turned the airplane back toward the shore. The pilot set up to land on a section of two-lane road near a highway. The pilot said that when he was on 'short, short final (about 15 to 20 feet above ground level),' he stalled the airplane. The airplane 'rebounded' approximately 5 feet into the air and weathervaned so that the pilot was looking at some trees. The pilot applied full left rudder just before the airplane touched down again. the airplane slid sideways until it came to a stop. Examination of the airplane's engine revealed the number four cylinder connecting rod was broken. A 2-inch diameter hole was located in the top aft portion of the engine crankcase. Oil was found covering the windscreen. ## Factual narrative On July 27, 1998, at 0923 eastern daylight time (edt), a Piper PA-22, N875A, operated by a private pilot sustained substantial damage when during cruise flight, the airplane's engine failed. During the subsequent forced landing, the airplane impacted the terrain 10 miles north of Muskegon, Michigan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal flight was being conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. No flight plan was on file. The pilot reported no injuries. The cross country flight originated at Pontiac, Michigan, at 0700 edt, and was en route to Oshkosh, Wisconsin. In his written statement, the pilot said that he was cruising en route to Oshkosh, Wisconsin, and just over Lake Michigan, when he felt the engine's power "sag for just an instant and then engine noises started." He said that these "noises" were "light at first" and then increased in volume. Then the engine began to shake violently, eventually shaking the entire airframe. Concerned that the engine might separate from the airframe, the pilot shut down the engine. The pilot turned the airplane back toward the shore, descended through a cloud deck and set up to land on a section of two-lane road near a highway. The pilot said that when he was on "short, short final (about 15 to 20 feet above ground level)," he stalled the airplane. The pilot held full back elevator. The airplane was level and slightly nose high when it impacted on the road. The airplane "rebounded" approximately 5 feet into the air and weathervaned so that the pilot was looking at some trees. The pilot applied full left rudder just before the airplane touched down again. the airplane slid sideways until it came to a stop. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector examined the airplane at the accident site. The airplane was resting upright at the bottom of a 7 foot embankment, along the side of a road shoulder. The bottom of the fuselage was crushed upward. Both main landing gear were bent aft and broken. Both wing struts were bent inward. The lower engine cowling was crushed upward and aft. The left wing leading edge was crushed rearward and torn. The left flap and left aileron were punctured. The right wing leading edge was bent aft and torn. The right wing tip was broken out and crushed. The engine mounts and nose gear strut were bent downward, and broken aft. The bottom of the rudder was crushed upward. The empennage showed skin wrinkles. The propeller showed torsional bending and chordwise scratches. Flight control continuity was confirmed. Oil was found covering the windscreen. Examination of the engine revealed the number four cylinder connecting rod was broken. A 2-inch diameter hole was located in the top aft portion of the engine crankcase. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N875A](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N875A-1999-06-22), registration cancelled 1999-06-22, S/N 22-180 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-22 - Registry model: [Piper PA-22](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-22) (registry code 7102202) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 22-180 - Airframe hours: 2061 - Engines: Lycoming O-290D 125 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Alan D. Hicks - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 25, 1998, 3 hours before - Departed: PTK, PONTIAC, MI - Destination: OSH, OSHKOSH, WI ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 47; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 225 total, 54 in this make and model, 225 as pilot in command, 7 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 240° at 12 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 5,000 ft broken - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: MKG, 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 19980727018009A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980727018009A), Jul 27, 1998: Piper PA22, Muskegon, MI, Substantial damage. Acft experienced engine failure and could not glide to airport, acft crahsed under unkn circumstances resulting in substantial damage. (-23) pilot stated that… 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.