# NTSB FTW76FRD31: Piper PA-32, N3650W, Convent, LA, March 4, 1976

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: March 4, 1976
- Place: Convent, LA · CONVENT, LA
- Location: 30.0118° N, 90.8206° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Convent, LA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.0118&lon=-90.8206&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 17, 1976
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 152603
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW76FRD31
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW76FRD31

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0172   76/3/4    CONVENT,LA          PIPER PA-32         CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 38, 105
        TIME - 1720                    N3650W              PX-  0  0  1  BUSINESS                  TOTAL HOURS, 29 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          JEFFERSON CITY,LA           NEW ORLEANS,LA
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
           GEAR COLLAPSED                                           LANDING: ROLL
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           POWERPLANT - ENGINE STRUCTURE: VALVE ASSEMBLIES
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - MATERIAL FAILURE
        FACTOR(S)
           TERRAIN - ROUGH/UNEVEN
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - OVERLOAD FAILURE
        PARTIAL POWER LOSS - PARTIAL LOSS OF POWER - 1 ENGINE
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON LAND
        REMARKS- NR 2 CYL EXHAUST VALVE FAILED. HIT DIRT PILE LDG ON ROAD.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3650W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3650W-2014-10-02), registration cancelled 2014-10-02, S/N 32-555, built 1966 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32
- Registry model: [Piper PA-32-260](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32-260) (registry code 7103206) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (registry code 41532, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage

## 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 19760304002629A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19760304002629A), Mar 4, 1976: Piper PA32260, Convent, LA, Substantial damage. Nr 2 cyl exhaust valve failed. Hit dirt pile ldg on road.

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.