# NTSB FTW88FA064: Piper PA-32-260, N4882S, Laplace, LA, February 12, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: February 11, 1988, 19:42 local (Feb 12, 1988, 01:42 UTC)
- Place: Laplace, LA
- Coordinates: 30.159719, -90.439888 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.1597&lon=-90.4399&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 25, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 22539
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW88FA064
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/22539/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW88FA064

## 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
  - powerplant - seized (cause)
  - engine assembly,cylinder - failure,total (cause)
  - maintenance,100-hour inspection - inadequate, other maintenance personnel (cause)
  - engine assembly,cylinder - fatigue (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
- On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll
  - object - wall/barricade (contributing factor)
- Main gear collapsed, landing - roll
  - landing gear,main gear - overload
  - ground loop/swerve

## Analysis

PLT WAS IN LEVEL CRZ FLT AT NIGHT WHEN HE OBSERVED SPARKS AND FLAME COMING FROM THE ENG COWLING. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, THE ENG BEGAN RUNNING ROUGH AND THEN SEIZED. AFTER DECLARING AN EMERGENCY AND BEING CLEARED STRAIGHT IN TO A RUNWAY ABOUT 28 MILES AWAY, THE PLT DECIDED THAT HE COULD NOT MAKE THE RWY AND EXECUTED AN EMERG LNDG ON AN UNLIGHTED STRETCH OF INTERSTATE HWY. DRNG THE LNDG ROLL, THE RT WING STRUCK A GUARD RAIL AND THE ACFT VEERED RT, COLLAPSING THE MLG. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE NO. 3 CYL HAD SEPARATED INTO 2 PIECES AS A RESULT OF A FATIGUE CRACK THAT HAD INITIATED AT THE INNER DIAMETER OF THE CYL. THE CAUSE OF THE FATIGUE INITIATION COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. EVIDENCE INDICATED THAT THE CYL FATIGUE CRACK HAD BEEN THERE FOR SOME TIME, MORE THAN THE 26 HRS THAT HAD ELAPSED SINCE THE LAST 100 HR INSP.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4882S](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4882S-1991-04-10), registration cancelled 1991-04-10, S/N 327100006 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32-260
- Registry model: [Piper PA-32-260](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32-260) (registry code 7103206) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 32-7100006
- Airframe hours: 2576
- Engines: LYCOMING O-540-E4B5 260 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Fire: In-Flight
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Frank J. Wathen
- Registered owner: Wathen, Frank J.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, December 24, 1987, 26 hours before
- Departed: ADS, ADDISON, TX
- Destination: MSY, NEW ORLEANS, LA
- Airport: MSY, New Orleans Intl.

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 28; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 100 total, 13 in this make and model, 43 as pilot in command, 13 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 340° at 14 knots, gusting 21
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 1,500 ft overcast
- Temperature: 37 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: MSY, 13 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 19880211003699A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880211003699A), Feb 11, 1988: Piper PA32260, New Orleans, LA, Substantial damage. Engine siezed after internal failure from a cylinder cracked as result of fatigue. Hit guard rail on hiway landing.

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.

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