- Date
- June 10, 1990, 16:30 local (23:30 UTC)
- Place
- Havasu Landing, CA
- Injuries
- 3 fatal, 3 serious
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N3AHPiper PA-32-300
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report September 17, 1992
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19900610019349A
- Case key
- 26634
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
Failure of the pilot to properly secure an oil supply line b-nut fitting after an oil change, which allowed the oil line to become disconnected and led to oil exhaustion and subsequent engine failure. A factor related to the accident was: unsuitable terrain in the emergency Landing area.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
While climbing abt 7 min after takeoff, the plt noted a significant drop in oil pressure. He then heard a noise fm the eng & diverted back toward the arpt. However, the eng began running rough, then failed. Subsequently, the acft impacted trrn during an emerg lndg in a dry river wash & began burning. One occupant was fatally injured during the acdnt. The plt (with thermal injuries) & 1 psgr succumbed to injuries a day later. An exam revealed evidence of a loss of oil & oil exhaustion. There was evidence that a b-nut fitting (on an oil line fm the eng to the rgt oil cooler) had backed off the nipple fitting on the eng. A hvy coating of oil was fnd on the belly of the acft. Investigation revealed that the pilot performed his own oil and oil filter changes. He had changed the oil & filter 2 days before the acdnt. The subject oil supply line was one that was typically removed during oil changes to facilitate removal of the oil filter and to drain the oil cooler.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N3AH
- Reported as
- Piper PA-32-300
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 32-40684
- Engine
- Lycoming IO-540-K1A5, 300 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Fire
- On-Ground
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Darrel L. Gillman
- Departed
- LHU · Lake Havasu, AZ
- Destination
- L12 · Redlands, CA
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 48
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 2,075 total · 1,100 in this make and model · 1,950 as pilot in command · 45 in the last 90 days · 15 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 180° at 13 knots, gusting 24
- Visibility
- 45 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 25,000 ft broken
- Temperature
- 93 °F, dew point 57 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- EED, 24 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.