# NTSB MIA95LA049: Piper PA-22-150, N2829P, Tavares, FL, December 24, 1994

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: December 24, 1994, 15:44 local (20:44 UTC)
- Place: Tavares, FL
- Coordinates: 28.800621, -81.730026 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.8006&lon=-81.7300&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report February 14, 1995
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 37715
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA95LA049
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/37715/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA95LA049

## Probable cause

THE FAILURE OF THE NO.3 CONNECTING ROD RESULTING IN A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN FOR A FORCED LANDING WAS A FACTOR.

## 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,connecting rod - failure,total (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- Nose gear collapsed, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor)
  - landing gear,nose gear - overload

## Analysis

WHILE IN CRUISE FLIGHT THE ENGINE BEGAN TO RUN ROUGH DUE TO A FAILURE OF THE NO.3 CONNECTING ROD, AND LOST POWER. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED A FORCED LANDING TO A PRIVATE AIRPORT. THE AIRPLANE LANDED SHORT OF THE AIRPORT IN A FIELD AND THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED DURING THE LANDING ROLL.

## Factual narrative

On December 24, 1994, about 1545 eastern standard time, N2829P, a Piper PA-22-150, crashed in Tavares, Florida, while on a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The airplane was substantially damaged and the commercially-rated pilot reported no injuries. The flight had originated from Leesburg, Florida, about 45 minutes earlier.

The pilot reported that while in cruise flight, at 1,000 feet, the engine began to run rough and the engine failed. The pilot attempted a forced landing to a private airport and landed short. The nose gear collapsed on touchdown. Local FAA inspectors examined the airplane and reported the No. 3 connecting rod in the engine failed at the piston pin end. The rod failure surfaces were too badly damaged to allow further examination to determine the failure mode.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2829P](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2829P-2006-08-03), registration cancelled 2006-08-03, S/N 22-3122, built 1955 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-22-150
- Registry model: [Piper PA-22-150](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-22-150) (registry code 7102210) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 22-3122
- Airframe hours: 4009
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Abernathy, John E.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, February 7, 1994, 112 hours before
- Departed: LEE, LEESVILLE, FL

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 68; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 1,799 total, 120 in this make and model, 1,659 as pilot in command, 34 in the last 90 days, 13 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 280° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 43 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: ORL, 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 19941224043469A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19941224043469A), Dec 24, 1994: Piper PA22150, Tavares, FL, Substantial damage. Lost power. Landed short of nearby Private strip. Connecting rod failure.

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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