DEN83LA121

NTSB accident investigation · Piper PA-22-150 · Ennis, MT · May 27, 1983

Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
May 26, 1983, 23:30 local (May 27, 1983, 05:30 UTC)
Place
Ennis, MT
Injuries
2 minor
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Enroute
Aircraft
N9975DPiper PA-22-150
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Night/bright
Status
Completed
Report
Approved by Office Director
FAA report
19830526021929A
Case key
16080

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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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.

Airframe/component/system failure/malfunctionCruise - normal
Lubricating system - undeterminedCause
Lubricating system - chafedCause
Lubricating system - leakCause
Fuselage,crew compartment - smokeFactor
Window,flight compartment window/windshield - dirty(foggy)Factor
In flight collision with terrain/waterLanding - flare/touchdown
Light condition - nightFactor
Terrain condition - high obstruction(s)Factor
Maneuver - performedPilot in commandFactor
Terrain condition - ditchFactor
Gear collapsedLanding - flare/touchdown
Landing gear - overloadFactor
On ground/water collision with objectLanding
Object - fenceFactor
Nose overLanding

Analysis

During a night flight, oil began spreading over the windshield & heavy smoke came in the cockpit through the cabin heater. The plt opened the cabin windows, reduced power & turned back toward the arpt. The oil pressure dropped to 5 PSI & the plt descended to land on a road which could be seen on the moonlit night. Reportedly, the engine began to 'rattle' as the acft neared the ground. The plt lined up with the road, but lost sight of it momentarily due to clouds obscuring the moon. Just before landing, he saw a guy wire & maneuvered the plane to avoid a collision. The acft stalled & hit a ditch, then the nose & left main gear sheared off. The acft continued thru bushes, hit a fence & nosed over. An investigation revealed that 2 oil lines had rubbed together until 1 had worn thru. The oil lines should have been protected by a rubber spacer & a clamp. Either the clamp had failed or had not been installed. Subsequently, the rubber spacer had moved & allowed the lines to rub together.

Aircraft

Registration
N9975D
Reported as
Piper PA-22-150
Category
Airplane
Serial number
22-6766
Airframe hours
1,597
Engine
Lycoming O-320, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Registered owner
Delane M. Hall
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · June 3, 1982 · 50 hours before
Departed
BZN · Bozeman, MT
Destination
VOI · American Falls, ID

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
54
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Medical
Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
Seat
Left
Flight hours
1,084 total · 60 in this make and model · 1,029 as pilot in command · 14 in the last 90 days · 3 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Night/bright
Wind
150° at 10 knots
Visibility
15 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
55 °F, dew point 43 °F
Altimeter
29.00 inHg
Observed at
BZN, 32 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.

Other investigations on N9975D · 1

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.