# NTSB LAX90FA213: Piper PA-32-300, N3AH, Havasu Landing, CA, June 10, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: June 10, 1990, 16:30 local (23:30 UTC)
- Place: Havasu Landing, CA
- Coordinates: 34.779861, -114.589958 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.7799&lon=-114.5900&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 3 fatal, 3 serious
- Status: Completed, report September 17, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 26634
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX90FA213
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/26634/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX90FA213

## 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

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power(total) - mech failure/malf, climb - to cruise
  - lubricating system,oil hose - not secured (cause)
  - maintenance - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - lubricating system,oil hose - disconnected (cause)
  - fluid,oil - exhaustion (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing
  - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor)

## 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](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3AH-1990-12-29), registration cancelled 1990-12-29, S/N 3240684 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32-300
- Registry model: [Piper PA-32-300](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32-300) (registry code 7103212) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 32-40684
- Engines: 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

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 48; 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 (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19900610019349A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900610019349A), Jun 10, 1990: Piper PA32300, Lake Havasu, AZ, Destroyed, 3 fatal. Lost oil pressure on climbout. Loose b nut at oil cooler. Engines seized. Stalled. Pilot didnt secure on oil change

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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