MIA95LA138

NTSB accident investigation · North American T-28A · Arcadia, FL · May 28, 1995

Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
May 28, 1995, 13:40 local (17:40 UTC)
Place
Arcadia, FL
Injuries
1 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Enroute
Aircraft
N28FENorth American T-28A
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report September 24, 1995
Report
Approved by Office Director
FAA report
19950528014369A
Case key
37774

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

Loss of engine power due to separation of 3 connecting rods from the master rod for undetermined reasons(s).

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.

Loss of engine power(partial) - mech failure/malfClimb - to cruise
Engine assembly,connecting rod - separationCause
Engine assembly,connecting rod - undeterminedFactor
Forced landingDescent - emergency
Wheels up landingLanding - flare/touchdown
Gear extension - not performedPilot in command
Gear extension - intentionalPilot in command

Analysis

The pilot stated that after takeoff while climbing through 2,500 feet, the oil pressure began dropping and the oil temperature began increasing. He executed a forced landing in a cow pasture landing intentionally gear-up. Examination of the engine revealed that 3 connecting rods were separated from the master rod for undetermined reason(s). Review of the engine logbook revealed that the engine was overhauled on July 25, 1994. The total time on the engine at that time was 5,347 hours and the engine had accumulated about 18 hours since overhaul at the time of the accident.

Factual narrative

On May 28, 1995, about 1340 eastern daylight time, a North American T-28A, N28FE, registered to the Park Avenue Group, was substantially damaged during a forced landing near Arcadia, Florida, while on a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The airline transport-rated pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The flight originated from the Peter O'Knight Airport, Tampa, Florida, about 1325.

The pilot stated that while climbing through 2,500 feet he observed the oil temperature increase and the oil pressure decrease. He then initiated a descent for a forced landing and intentionally landed gear-up in a field. The engine was removed for further examination.

Examination of the engine by an FAA airworthiness inspector revealed that the cylinder Nos. 4, 5, and 6 connecting rods were separated from the master rod for undetermined reason(s).

Review of the engine logbook revealed that the engine was overhauled on July 25, 1994. The total time on the engine at the time of overhaul was about 5,347 hours. The engine had accumulated about 18 hours since overhaul at the time of the accident.

Aircraft

Registration
N28FE
Reported as
North American T-28A
Category
Airplane
Serial number
51-3647
Airframe hours
5,365
Engine
Wright 1820-56S, 1,300 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Registered owner
Park Avenue Group
Airworthiness certificate
Special, Experimental (Special)
Last inspection
Annual · May 2, 1995 · 4 hours before
Departed
TPF · Tampa, FL
Destination
TMB · Miami, FL

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
55
Certificates
Commercial, Airline transport
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
Seat
Front
Flight hours
8,300 total · 19 in this make and model · 7,802 as pilot in command · 26 in the last 90 days · 8 in the last 30 days

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Visibility
7 statute miles
Temperature
84 °F

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.