- Date
- February 8, 1996, 08:45 local (13:45 UTC)
- Place
- Boca Raton, FL
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N55329Piper PA-28R
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report June 6, 1996
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19960208001479A
- Case key
- 37978
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 partial loss of engine power due to the fatigue failure of the number 3 cylinder hold down studs and nut. A factor was the pilot'e evasive maneuver to avoid golphers on a golf course.
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 airplane was climbing through 4,000 feet when the pilot heard a 'pop' and the engine started shaking. The pilot made a forced landing to a golf course. On landing roll out the pilot made a turn to the left to avoid some golfers who did not move. The right wing of the airplane collided with a tree. Examination of the engine revealed the number 3 cylinder hold down studs and nut failed due to fatigue.
Factual narrative
On February 8, 1996, about 0845 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-28R, N55329, registered to Professional Flight Training Inc., operating as a 14 CFR Part 91 instructional flight, experienced a partial loss of engine power, and made a forced landing in the vicinity of Boca Raton, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and an IFR flight plan was filed. The commercial pilot/certified flight instructor (CFI), and student pilot reported no injuries. The flight originated from Fort Lauderdale about 19 minutes before the accident.
The CFI stated they were climbing through 4,000 feet when they heard a noise similar to a "pop" and the engine started shaking. The CFI reversed course for Fort Lauderdale and informed Miami Approach Control of his intentions. The airplane would not maintain altitude so he started flying towards Boca Raton Airport. He realized he would not make the airport and made a forced landing to a golf course. On landing roll he had to turn to the left to avoid hitting some golfers who did not move. The right wing of the airplane collided with a tree sustaining substantial damage.
Examination of the engine assembly by the FAA revealed a failure of the hold down studs on the No. 3 cylinder and one hold down nut on the No. 1 cylinder.
Examination of the hold down studs and nut was performed by the NTSB materials laboratory. The examination revealed that all three studs separated as a result of fatigue fracture mechanism. The fracture face on the nut contained characteristic features of a high stress fatigue separation. (See NTSB Metallurgist's Factual Report No. 96-86.)
The hold down studs and nut were released to Mr. Tom Margagliano, Professional Flight Training Inc., on April 23, 1996.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N55329
- Reported as
- Piper PA-28R
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 28R-7385217
- Airframe hours
- 5,326
- Engine
- Lycoming IO-360-CIC, 200 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional · Part 91
- Operator
- Pft Inc.
- Registered owner
- Pft Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · January 25, 1996 · 9 hours before
- Departed
- FXE · Fort Lauderdale, FL
- Destination
- ORL · Orlando, FL
- Flight plan
- IFR
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
- 26
- Certificates
- Flight instructor, Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Right
- Flight hours
- 1,250 total · 120 in this make and model · 1,000 as pilot in command · 180 in the last 90 days · 45 in the last 30 days · 3 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 100° at 11 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 70 °F, dew point 52 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- PBI, 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.