# NTSB FTW95LA139: Piper PA-28R-201, N47839, Devine, TX, March 18, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 18, 1995, 10:50 local (16:50 UTC) - Place: Devine, TX - Coordinates: 29.139631, -98.899963 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.1396&lon=-98.9000&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 13, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 19370 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW95LA139 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/19370/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW95LA139 ## Probable cause A POWER LOSS DUE TO THE INADVERTENT OPENING OF AN UNAPPROVED QUICK OIL DRAIN INSTALLED BY MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL. A FACTOR WAS THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN FOR THE FORCED LANDING. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise - lubricating system,oil quickdrain/drain plug - unapproved part (cause) - maintenance,modification - improper, other maintenance personnel (cause) - lubricating system,oil quickdrain/drain plug - open (cause) - fluid,oil - loss,total - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, emergency landing - terrain condition - soft - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) ## Analysis THE ENGINE OIL ANNUNCIATOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED 10 MINUTES INTO THE FLIGHT FOLLOWING AN ENGINE INSTALLATION AND COMPLETION OF AN ANNUAL INSPECTION. THE ENGINE OIL PRESSURE DROPPED TO ZERO AFTER THE ENGINE OIL DRAINED FROM AN UNAPPROVED QUICK DRAIN PLUG WHICH WAS INSTALLED ON THE ENGINE OIL PAN BY THE MECHANIC. THIS RESULTED IN A TOTAL POWER LOSS. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE NOSE LANDING GEAR DRAG LINK MADE CONTACT WITH THE QUICK OIL DRAIN DURING THE GEAR RETRACTION CYCLE RESULTING IN THE LOSS OF OIL. WHILE ATTEMPTING A FORCED LANDING IN A SOFT FRESHLY PLOWED FIELD, THE AIRPLANE WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED. ## Factual narrative On March 18, 1995, at 1110 central standard time, a Piper PA- 28R-201, N47839, was substantially damaged during a forced landing near Devine, Texas. The commercial pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal cross country flight. No flight plan was filed for the flight which was flown under Title 14 CFR Part 91. According to the pilot, the aircraft had just come out of an annual inspection and new engine installation. The pilot stated that he completed a detailed preflight and runup with the cowling removed. After taking off, the pilot cycled the landing gear a couple of times while in the airport vicinity, before heading for Devine, Texas, at 1,800 feet. Ten minutes into the flight the engine oil annunciator light came on and the oil pressure gauge indicated that oil pressure was falling off. The pilot elected to execute a forced landing to an open field. The field selected was a freshly plowed sandy field. Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed that the an unapproved quick oil drain was installed on the engine. The oil drain was found in the open position. Further investigation revealed that the oil drain was inadvertently opened by the nose gear drag link during the nose retraction cycle resulting in the loss of oil. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N47839](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N47839), registered now, S/N 28R-7837006 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28R-201 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28R-201](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28r-201) (registry code 7102816) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 7837006 - Airframe hours: 1700 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-C16 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Collins, Dale L. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 17, 1995, 1 hours before - Departed: PEZ, PLEASANTON, TX - Destination: 23R ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 45; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 7,000 total, 50 in this make and model, 6,500 as pilot in command, 50 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 15 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg ## 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 19950318004389A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950318004389A), Mar 18, 1995: Piper PA28R201, Devine, TX, Substantial damage. New engine and annual. Lost oil pressure. Elected land soft field. Bogus oil drain opened by drag link gear retract. ## Other investigations on N47839 (1) 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. - [NTSB MIA01LA195](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA01LA195), Jul 26, 2001: Piper PA-28R (N47839), Orlando, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: the pilot's improper visual lookout, which resulted in the aircraft colliding with a fence. 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.