# NTSB LAX87FA072: North American T-28C, N9022Y, Van Nuys, CA, January 1, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: January 1, 1987, 09:40 local (17:40 UTC)
- Place: Van Nuys, CA
- Coordinates: 34.189552, -118.489143 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.1896&lon=-118.4891&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal, 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report November 10, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 25367
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX87FA072
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/25367/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX87FA072

## 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, takeoff - initial climb
  - engine assembly - overspeed (cause)
  - maintenance - improper, other maintenance personnel (cause)
  - engine assembly,connecting rod - failure,total (cause)
- Forced landing, landing - flare/touchdown
- Nose over, landing - flare/touchdown
  - gear extension - intentional, dual student (contributing factor)
  - crew/group coordination - inadequate, dual student (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - soft (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE PLTS WERE PRACTICING LNDGS, AND WERE ON THE 3RD FLT AFTER THE ENG HAD BEEN OVERHAULED. AFTER TAKEOFF FROM A TOUGH-&-GO, THE INSTRUCTOR NOTICED THAT THE OIL TEMP WAS HIGH. SOON THEREAFTER, THE ENG BEGAN TO RUN ROUGH, THEN IT SEIZED. UNABLE TO GET BACK TO THE RWY, HE LANED IN A PLOWED FLD. HE SAID HE INTENDED TO LND WITH THE GEAR RETRACTED, BUT THE ACFT TOUCHED DOWN WITH THE GEAR EXTDD, THEN BOUNCED & NOSED OVR. THE CFI BELIEVED THE STUDENT MAY HAVE EXTDD THE GEAR, JUST BFR LNDG. INV REVEALED A CATASTROPHIC INTERNAL FAILURE OF THE ENG HAD OCCURRED. THERE WAS EVIDENCE OF AN OVERSPEED. A WITNESS RPRTD THAT DUE TO IMPROPER INSTLN OF THE CARB THROTTLE ARM, THE ENG WENT TO FULL PWR, WHEN IT WAS STARTED AFTER OVERHAUL. RPRTDLY, IT STAYED AT FULL PWR FOR SVRL MIN BFR IT COULD BE SHUT DOWN. A TEARDOWN REVEALED THE CONNECTING RODS HAD FAILED, THE CYL SKIRTS WERE DMGD, 1 PISTON WAS DESTROYED & OTRS WERE DMGD, SVRL BEARINGS WERE WORN & OVERHEATED, METAL CHIPS/CONTAMINATION FND IN ENG & OIL SYS. ENG HAD BEEN OPERD ABOUT 7 HRS SINCE OVERHAUL.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9022Y](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9022Y-1991-05-09), registration cancelled 1991-05-09, S/N 140593 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: NORTH AMERICAN T-28C
- Registry model: [North American T-28C](https://openairdocs.org/model/north-american-t-28c) (registry code 6402507) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 140593
- Airframe hours: 8641
- Engines: Curtis Wright R-1820-86B 1425 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Ronald S. Miller
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, January 20, 1986, 91 hours before
- Departed: VNY
- Airport: VNY, Van Nuys, runway 16R, 8,001 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 45; flight instructor, airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: rear; toxicology performed; flight hours: 18,156 total, 17,801 as pilot in command, 270 in the last 90 days, 85 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 15,000 ft overcast
- Temperature: 52 °F, dew point 39 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: VNY, 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 19870101083489A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870101083489A), Jan 1, 1987: Namer T28A, Van Nuys, CA, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Engine seized turning downwind. Landed in open field and flipped over. CFI intended gear up. Gear found down.

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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