# NTSB FTW04LA027: Piper PA-28-235, N56318, Sweetwater, TX, November 21, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: November 21, 2003, 08:00 local (14:00 UTC) - Place: Sweetwater, TX - Coordinates: 32.467224, -100.466392 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.4672&lon=-100.4664&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 2, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - SW13 - NTSB case key (mKey): 58384 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW04LA027 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/58384/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW04LA027 ## Probable cause the loss of engine power due to a failure of the crankshaft bolt. A contributing factor was the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing. ## Analysis During cruise flight, the engine lost power and the airplane impacted the terrain short of the alternate airport. The 123-hour private pilot stated the engine "suddenly stopped producing power." He attempted to restart the engine; however, he was not successful. During the forced landing, "strong surface winds came up," and the airplane impacted the terrain approximately 450 feet short of the runway. The airplane then struck trees, a fence, two poles and came to rest on the runway surface. Examination of the engine revealed the crankshaft bolt and crankshaft dowel pin had fractured and failed. The bolt fracture surfaces displayed signatures consistent with fatigue. At the time of the accident, the engine had accumulated approximately 576 hours since major overhaul. ## Factual narrative On November 21, 2003, approximately 0800 central standard time, a Piper PA-28-235 single-engine airplane, N56318, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing following a loss of engine power while in cruise flight near Sweetwater, Texas. The private pilot and his passenger were not injured. The airplane was registered to Master Plumbers LLC, Hobbs, New Mexico, and operated by the pilot. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The flight departed the Lea County Regional Airport, near Hobbs, New Mexico, at 0610, and was destined for Abilene, Texas. The 123-hour pilot stated that during the flight, approximately 7 to 9 nautical miles west of Avenger Field Airport (SWW), near Sweetwater, the engine "suddenly stopped producing power." The pilot attempted to restart the engine; however, was not successful. During the forced landing to SWW, "strong surface winds came up," and the airplane impacted the terrain approximately 450 feet short of the runway. According to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Inspector who responded to the accident site, after impacting the terrain, the airplane struck trees, a fence, two poles and came to rest on the runway surface. The inspector stated the fuselage was twisted, and the horizontal stabilizer sustained structural damage. At the accident site, the inspector rotated the engine crankshaft by hand and continuity to the accessories and valve train was not established. The airframe and engine were recovered for further examination. On December 10, 2003, under the supervision of an FAA Inspector, the Lycoming O-540-B4B5 engine, serial number L-15593-40, was disassembled for examination. Examination of the engine revealed the crankshaft bolt and crankshaft dowel pin had fractured and failed. The bolt fracture surfaces displayed signatures consistent with fatigue. A review of the engine maintenance records revealed the engine underwent a major overhaul, dated October 21, 1988, at 1,762.15 hours total time. The most recent annual inspection on the engine was completed on May 20, 2003, at a total time of 494.8 hours since major overhaul. At the time of the accident, the engine had accumulated approximately 576 hours since major overhaul. Review of the maintenance records revealed no evidence of any uncorrected maintenance discrepancies. ## 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 - engine assembly,other - failure (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - In flight collision with terrain/water, emergency landing - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) - On ground/water collision with object, landing - object - tree(s) - object - fence - object - pole ## Aircraft - Registration: [N56318](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N56318-2018-02-15), registration cancelled 2018-02-15, S/N 28-7310174, built 1973 (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) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (registry code 41532, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-7310174 - Airframe hours: 2338 - Engines: Lycoming O-540-B4B5 235 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 91 - Registered owner: Master Plumbers LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 20, 2003, 82 hours before - Departed: HOB, Hobbs, NM - Destination: ABI, Abilene, TX - Airport: SWW, Avenger Field ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 27; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review July 23, 2003; seat: left; flight hours: 40 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 210° at 14 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 37 °F - Altimeter: 29.89 inHg - Observed at: ABI, 40 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 20031121028629A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20031121028629A), Nov 21, 2003: Piper PA28235, Sweetwater, TX, Substantial damage. (-23) On November 21, 2003, Mr. Vincent lee (pilot) of aircraft N56318, a Piper PA-28-235, departed hobbs lea county regional airport (hob) at 0610. He had… 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.