# NTSB FTW96LA078: Piper PA-24-250, N5221P, Kaufman, TX, December 27, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 27, 1995, 16:00 local (22:00 UTC) - Place: Kaufman, TX - Coordinates: 32.579204, -96.299186 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.5792&lon=-96.2992&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 2 serious - Status: Completed, report February 14, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 19731 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW96LA078 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/19731/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW96LA078 ## Probable cause THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO A BENT PUSH ROD AND THE RESULTANT LOSS OF OIL. FACTORS WERE THE COCKPIT SMOKE AND 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(partial) - mech failure/malf, cruise - engine assembly,push rod - bent (cause) - fluid,oil - leak (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown - fuselage,crew compartment - smoke (contributing factor) - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) - object - fence ## Analysis THE ENGINE 'STARTED TO RUN ROUGH' AND SMOKE FILLED THE COCKPIT. DURING THE DOWNWIND APPROACH TO A FIELD, FORWARD VISIBILITY WAS LIMITED BY THE SMOKE. ON SHORT FINAL, THE PILOT OBSERVED A FENCE ACROSS THE LANDING AREA AND 'PULLED THE YOKE ALL THE WAY BACK.' FOLLOWING THE HARD LANDING, THE AIRPLANE TRAVELED THROUGH THE FENCE. THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED, AND THE ENGINE FUSELAGE AND WINGS WERE DAMAGED. ENGINE OIL WAS FOUND ON THE ENGINE COWLING AND IN THE AREA OF THE #4 CYLINDER. THE OIL SUMP CONTAINED APPROXIMATELY 1.5 QUARTS OF OIL. THE EXHAUST VALVE PUSH ROD AND THE PUSH ROD TUBE ON THE #4 CYLINDER WERE BENT AND WERE NO LONGER IN PLACE. ENGINE TIME SINCE THE LAST MAJOR OVERHAUL WAS 697.65 HOURS AND THE TIME SINCE THE LAST ANNUAL INSPECTION WAS 26 HOURS. ## Factual narrative On December 27, 1995, at 1600 central standard time, a Piper PA- 24-250, N5221P, was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a partial loss of engine power near Kaufman, Texas. The private pilot and the passenger received serious injuries. The flight originated from Terrell, Texas, at 1515 and was being operated as a personal flight under Title 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed for the local flight. The pilot reported that the engine "started to run rough" and subsequently, as the cockpit filled with smoke a field was selected for a landing. Forward visibility from the cockpit was "limited by the smoke" as the airplane flew downwind to the field. During the final approach the pilot observed a fence across the landing area and "pulled the yoke all the way back." Following the hard landing, the airplane traveled through the fence. The nose gear collapsed, and the engine cowling, fuselage and wings were damaged. Examination of the engine and a review of the maintenance records by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector and the manufacturer representative revealed the following information. Engine oil was found on the engine cowling toward the cockpit and in the area of the #4 cylinder. The oil sump contained approximately 1.5 quarts of oil. The exhaust valve push rod and push rod tube on the #4 cylinder were bent and were no longer in place. Crankshaft continuity to the accessory gears was confirmed. Valve action was confirmed on all cylinders except the #4 cylinder. The hydraulic tappet plunger assembly and hydraulic tappet socket for the #4 cylinder were missing. The exhaust valve on the #4 cylinder was "broken off at the push rod end" and "exhibited scoring on the stem." The exhaust valve guide in the #4 cylinder had a "foreign object imbedded in the wall." Engine time since major overhaul was 697.65 hours and the time since the last annual inspection was 26 hours. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5221P](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5221P-2014-09-08), registration cancelled 2014-09-08, S/N 24-248, built 1958 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-24-250 - Registry model: [Piper PA-24-250](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-24-250) (registry code 7102404) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (registry code 41532, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 24-248 - Airframe hours: 5347 - Engines: LYCOMING O-540-A1C5 250 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Dean A. Benham - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 9, 1995, 26 hours before - Departed: 69F, TERRELL, TX ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 62; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 802 total, 378 in this make and model, 689 as pilot in command, 33 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 20° at 11 knots - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 22,000 ft broken - Temperature: 59 °F, dew point 27 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: DAL, 290 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 19951227042609A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19951227042609A), Dec 27, 1995: Piper PA24250, Kaufman, TX, Substantial damage. Rough engine smoke in cockpit tried land in field. Hit fence. Oil on cowling push rod tube bent and out of place. ## Other investigations on N5221P (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 DEN70DXD22](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN70DXD22), Apr 4, 1970: Piper PA-24 (N5221P), Colorado Spg, CO, substantial damage 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.