- Date
- September 2, 1992, 14:41 local (21:41 UTC)
- Place
- Concord, CA
- Injuries
- 2 fatal
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N4305YPiper PA-23-160
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report September 14, 1993
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19920902035109A
- Case key
- 27451
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
The following Probable Cause was modified on April18, 2007, as a result of new information provided to the NTSB.
The improper installation of the 1.75 inch od plug in the crankshaft by unknown maintenance personnel which resulted in an inadvertent feathering of the left engine propeller.
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
The following Brief was modified on April18, 2007, as a result of new information provided to the NTSB.
The aircraft collided with a bridge while trying to return to the airport after reporting an emergency during the previous touch and go landing. Witnesses indicated both engines sounded like they were running and both propellers were turning. The left engine propeller was found feathered after the accident. Investigation revealed a 1.75 inch od plug installed in the crankshaft to separate oil pressure from the propeller governor and the engine crankcase was blown aft damaging the number one rod connecting journal oil transfer tube. Examination of the plug disclosed that it was installed backwards.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N4305Y
- Reported as
- Piper PA-23-160
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 2028
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-B3B, 160 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Fire
- On-Ground
- Flight
- Instructional · Part 91
- Operator
- Chavossy, Louis
- Registered owner
- Chavossy, Louis
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · January 23, 1992
- Departed
- HWD · Hayward, CA
- Airport
- CCR · Buchanan Field, runway 19, 4,400 × 150 ft, asphalt
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
- 40
- Certificates
- Flight instructor, Private, Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Invalid Medical for flight
- Seat
- Right
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 800 total · 170 in this make and model · 650 as pilot in command · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 300° at 13 knots
- Visibility
- 40 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 79 °F, dew point 52 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- CCR, 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.