# NTSB MIA92LA039: Piper PA-28-140, N7411J, Lawrenceville, GA, December 6, 1991

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: December 6, 1991, 14:10 local (19:10 UTC)
- Place: Lawrenceville, GA
- Location: 33.9529° N, 83.9922° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Lawrenceville, GA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.9529&lon=-83.9922&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report April 27, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 33038
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA92LA039
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/33038/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA92LA039

## Probable cause

THE SEPARATION OF NUMBERS 1,2, AND 3 CONNECTING RODS FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS RESULTING IN LOSS OF ENGINE POWER.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(partial) - mech failure/malf, cruise - normal
  - engine assembly - undetermined (cause)
- Loss of engine power(total) - mech failure/malf, descent - emergency
  - engine assembly - undetermined (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll
  - object - fence

## Analysis

ENG LOST PARTIAL POWER AND PLT TURNED BACK TOWARD DEPARTURE ARPT. AFTER TURN PLT NOTICED OIL PRESSURE WAS ZERO. ENG THEN LOST ALL POWER. ACFT COLLIDED WITH A FENCE AND A DITCH WHILE MAKING A FORCED LANDING. A POST CRASH FIRE ERRUPTED AND CONSUMED THE ACFT. POST CRASH EXAMINATION OF THE ENG ASSEMBLY REVEALED NUMBERS 1, 2, AND 3 CONNECTING RODS WERE DISCONNECTED FROM THE CRANKSHAFT AND THE ROD BEARINGS WERE BURNED AND SCORED. THE ENGINE OIL PUMP WAS INTACT. THE ENG ACCESSORIES HAD BURNED AWAY AND THE CAUSE OF CONNECTING ROD SEPARATION COULD NOT BE DETERMINED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7411J](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7411J-1992-03-12), registration cancelled 1992-03-12, S/N 2824776 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-140
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-140](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-140) (registry code 7102802) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28-24776
- Airframe hours: 3600
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-E2A 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: James A. Orcutt
- Registered owner: William D. Orcutt
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, December 1, 1990, 85 hours before
- Departed: LZU, LAWRENCEVILLE, GA
- Destination: 08A, WETUMPKA, AL
- Flight plan: VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 38; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 77 total, 77 in this make and model, 49 as pilot in command, 31 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 290° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 25 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: PDK, 20 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 19911206055139A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19911206055139A), Dec 6, 1991: Piper PA28140, Lawrenceville, GA, Destroyed. Lost power en route. Struck fence and ditch landing. Aircraft destroyed by fire. Engine threw two connecting rods.

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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