# NTSB MIA86LA242: Piper PA-28-140, N6460W, Fort Pierce, FL, August 25, 1986

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 25, 1986, 10:10 local (14:10 UTC)
- Place: Fort Pierce, FL
- Location: 27.4256° N, 80.3404° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Fort Pierce, FL, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.4256&lon=-80.3404&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 4, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 31698
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA86LA242
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/31698/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA86LA242

## 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,other - failure,total (cause)
  - engine assembly,connecting rod - disconnected (cause)
  - engine assembly - overtemperature (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- Ditching, landing - flare/touchdown

## Analysis

WHILE IN CRUISE FLT THE ACFT'S ENG FAILED AND THE ACFT WAS DITCHED IN A RIVER. POST CRASH ENG EXAM REVEALED THE NO. 1 AND NO. 2 CONNECTING RODS SEPARATED FROM THE CRANKSHAFT WHEN BOTH BOLTS FAILED ON THE NO. 1 ROD AND 1 BOLT FAILED ON THE NO. 2 ROD. METALLURGICAL EXAM OF THE BOLTS REVEALED THE ROCKWELL HARDNESS OF THE NO. 1 ROD BOLTS VARIED FROM 26 TO 44 AT VARIOUS POINTS AND THE HARDNESS OF THE FAILED NO. 2 ROD BOLT VARIED FROM 41.6 TO 42.2. MICROSTRUCTURE ANALYSIS OF THE FAILED BOLTS INDICATED THE STRUCTURE VARIED FROM PRIMARILY FERRITE NEAR THE LOW HARDNESS AREAS TO PRIMARILY MARTENSITE NEAR THE HIGHER HARDNESS AREAS. THE CHANGE IN MICROSTRUCTURE INDICATES THAT ALTHOUGH BLOCKAGES WERE NOT OBVIOUS IN THE LUBRICATION SYSTEM, THE BOLTS WERE SUBJECTED TO EXCESSIVE HEAT. THE NO. 1 AND NO. 2 CONNECTING ROD CRANKSHAFT JOURNALS INDICATED EVIDENCE OF SCORING AND DARKENING.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N6460W (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-140
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28-20533
- Airframe hours: 2860
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-E2A 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: William G. Wilson
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, July 6, 1986, 34 hours before
- Departed: PMP, POMPANO BEACH, FL
- Destination: FPR, FORT PIERCE, FL

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 65; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 641 total, 185 in this make and model, 501 as pilot in command, 4 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 200° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 86 °F, dew point 75 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: VRB, 15 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 19860825086539A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19860825086539A), Aug 25, 1986: Piper PA28140, Fort Pierce, FL, Substantial damage. The engine seized and the aircraft was ditched in a river. A rod cap bolt had less than required hardness.

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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