# NTSB LAX04LA280: Piper PA-32RT-300, N5GC, Ontario, CA, July 25, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 25, 2004, 11:50 local (18:50 UTC) - Place: Ontario, CA - Coordinates: 34.055, -117.565002 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.0550&lon=-117.5650&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 8, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 59757 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX04LA280 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/59757/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=59757 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX04LA280 ## Probable cause a catastrophic engine failure due to the overheating of a connecting rod bearing, and the resulting failure of the rod, for undetermined reasons. ## 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 - engine assembly,bearing - failure,total (cause) - engine assembly,connecting rod - failure,total (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, emergency landing - terrain condition - berm (contributing factor) - terrain condition - open field ## Analysis The airplane collided with a berm during a forced landing in an open field about 3/4-mile from an airport following a loss of engine power. The pilot reported that initially during the flight the engine had operated normally. However, after flying for several minutes, the engine started running rough, and oil appeared on the front windshield. Thereafter, all engine power was lost. During the subsequent examination of the engine about 10 quarts of oil were found in the sump, and a hole was found in the engine's case next to the oil dipstick port. The teardown examination of the engine revealed that, for undetermined reasons, the connecting rod bearing on rod number 5 had overheated to failure, and the connecting rod broke. The engine had been operated 40 hours since its last inspection and 806 hours since last receiving a major overhaul. The airplane's total time was about 6,325 hours. ## Factual narrative On July 25, 2004, about 1150 Pacific daylight time, a Piper PA-32RT-300, N5GC, operated by the pilot-owner, experienced a total loss of engine power while cruising. The pilot made a forced landing in a field about 3/4-mile east of the Ontario International Airport, Ontario, California. Following touchdown, the airplane impacted a berm and was substantially damaged. Neither the airline transport pilot nor the passenger was injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the personal flight, and no flight plan had been filed. The local flight was performed under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91, and it originated from Upland, California, about 1130. The pilot reported to the National Transportation Safety Board investigator that initially during his flight the engine seemed to be operating normally. After flying for several minutes the engine started running rough, and oil appeared on the front windshield. Thereafter, all engine power was lost. The airplane had insufficient altitude to glide to the nearest airport, and a forced landing ensued in a field. Under the Safety Board investigator's direction, the airplane was recovered from the accident site and was examined under the supervision of a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) aviation safety inspector. The external engine examination revealed the presence of a hole in the engine's case, next to the oil dipstick port. The engine was removed from the airplane and disassembled by personnel at a FAA certificated repair station, while under FAA supervision. In pertinent part, the repair station personnel reported its examination observations and opined the following sequence of events: 1. The engine was noted to have approximately 10 quarts of oil in the sump; 2. The oil pan and finger screen were full of metal; 2. Connecting rod bearing, part number SL74309, on connecting rod number 5 appeared to have overheated to failure; 3. This overheat condition resulted in breakage of connecting rod number 5; 4. Debris from this breakage resulted in connecting rod number 6 punching a hole in the case. According to the pilot-owner, he had recently purchased the airplane, which had a total time of 6,325.38 hours. The engine, serial number L17809-48A, had 806 hours since last receiving a major overhaul. The airplane had been operated about 40 hours since its last annual inspection in November 2003. ## Aircraft - Registration: N5GC (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-32RT-300 - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 32R-7985030 - Airframe hours: 6325 - Engines: Lycoming IO-540-K1G5D 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 19, 2003, 40 hours before - Departed: CCB, Upland, CA - Destination: CCB, Upland, CA - Airport: ONT, Ontario, runway 26R, 12,198 × 150 ft, concrete ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 36; injuries: none; airline transport, flight engineer; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review February 1, 2004; seat: left; flight hours: 8,100 total, 600 in this make and model, 2,535 as pilot in command, 150 in the last 90 days, 50 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 260° at 10 knots - Visibility: 9 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 91 °F, dew point 59 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 inHg - Observed at: ONT, 1 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 20040725024229A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040725024229A), Jul 25, 2004: Piper PA32RT300, Ontario, CA, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot stated he noticed while climbing after takeoff from cable airport (ccb), the engine oil temp appeared to be a little high. He also stated this was… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 31, 2005, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=59757. 558 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 426 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40227555&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Performance Engines Teardown Report (item 2, .PDF, 59 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40438268&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Performance%20Engines%20Teardown%20Report-Redacted.PDF - Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 (item 3, .PDF, 73 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40227557&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Release%20of%20Aircraft%20Wreckage,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.15-Redacted.PDF 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.