# NTSB LAX91LA382: Piper PA-28R-200, N2080T, Redwood City, CA, September 4, 1991

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: September 3, 1991, 19:15 local (Sep 4, 1991, 02:15 UTC)
- Place: Redwood City, CA
- Coordinates: 37.400714, -122.29071 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.4007&lon=-122.2907&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report May 3, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 27349
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX91LA382
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/27349/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX91LA382

## Probable cause

THE FATIGUE FAILURE OF THE NUMBER TWO CONNECTING ROD AND ROD CAP DUE TO AN ENGINE OVERSPEED CONDITION WHICH THE RODS AND ROD CAPS WERE EXPOSED AT SOME UNDETERMINED HISTORICAL POINT.

## 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 - normal
  - engine assembly,connecting rod cap - fatigue (cause)
  - engine assembly,connecting rod cap - failure,total (cause)
  - powerplant - overspeed (cause)
  - reason for occurrence undetermined, unknown (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
  - terrain condition - none suitable
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - emergency
  - terrain condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor)
  - visual lookout - not possible, pilot in command (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE 400 HOUR SINCE FACTORY REMANUFACTURED ENGINE BEGAN TO RUN ROUGH, THEN IT QUIT WITH A LOUD 'BANG.'  THE PILOT WAS ATTEMPTING TO COMPLETE A FORCED LANDING IN A PASTURE AREA WHEN THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND. DISASSEMBLY OF THE ENGINE REVEALED THAT THE NUMBER TWO CYLINDER CONNECTING ROD AND ITS ASSOCIATED ROD CAP HAD FAILED.  METALLURGICAL EXAMINATION OF ALL CONNECTING RODS AND CAPS WAS PERFORMED. THE #2 ROD AND CAP FAILED DUE TO A FATIGUE FRACTURE WITH AN ORIGIN ON THE BORE SURFACE.  AREAS OF GALLING WERE FOUND ON BOTH THE ROD CAP AND THE CONNECTING ROD BORE. CRACKS WERE IDENTIFIED WITHIN THE GALLED AREA ON THE NUMBER TWO CONNECTING ROD BORE.  EXAMINATION OF THE THREE REMAINING CONNECTING RODS AND THEIR CAPS REVEALED GALLED AREAS WITHIN THE BORES.  THE METALLURGISTS STATED THAT HE HAD OBSERVED SIMILAR FAILURES ON HELICOPTER PISTON ENGINES WHICH WERE KNOWN TO HAVE HAD AN OVERSPEED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2080T](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2080T-2012-08-23), registration cancelled 2012-08-23, S/N 28R-7135024, built 1970 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28R-200
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28R-200](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28r-200) (registry code 7102811) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28R-7135024
- Airframe hours: 3646
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-CIC 200 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Crawford, Jeffrey C.
- Registered owner: Crawford, Jeffrey C.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, June 21, 1991, 26 hours before
- Departed: SQL, SAN CARLOS, CA
- Destination: SNS, SALINAS, CA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 29; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 492 total, 393 in this make and model, 307 as pilot in command, 30 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 70 °F

## 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 19910903038419A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19910903038419A), Sep 3, 1991: Piper PA28R200, Redwood City, CA, Substantial damage. Threw a rod en route. Engine seized, oil on windshield. Crash landed. Connecting rod cap failed. 400 hour remain eng

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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