# NTSB MKC90LA112: Piper PA-32-300, N301KK, Little Rock, AR, May 23, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: May 23, 1990, 06:00 local (11:00 UTC)
- Place: Little Rock, AR
- Location: 34.7465° N, 92.2896° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Little Rock, AR, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.7465&lon=-92.2896&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 15, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 34984
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MKC90LA112
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/34984/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC90LA112

## Probable cause

THE FAILURE OF THE POWERPLANT DUE TO A SHEARED TIMING GEAR. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE UNSUITABLE TERRAIN AND RESTRICTED VISION DUE TO FOG.

## 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, approach - faf/outer marker to threshold (ifr)
  - single engine aircraft
  - engine assembly,timing gear - sheared (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE ATR RATED PLT SAID THAT HE WAS ON AN ILS INSTRUMENT APPROACH, IN IFR CONDITIONS, AND HAD JUST INTERCEPTED THE GLIDE SLOPE, WHEN THE ENGINE FAILED. AN EMERGENCY, OFF AIRPORT, LANDING WAS ATTEMPTED ON A LANDFILL WITH ROUGH UNSUITABLE TERRAIN. POST ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE TIMING GEAR HAD SHEARED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N301KK](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N301KK), registered now, S/N 32-7940092, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32-300
- Registry model: [Piper PA-32-300](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32-300) (registry code 7103212) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-series) (registry code 41530, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 32-7940092
- Airframe hours: 3500
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-540-K1G5 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Registered owner: Sst Aviation, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, March 20, 1990, 50 hours before
- Departed: FLP, FLIPPIN, AR
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: LIT, Little Rock-Adams

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 47; flight instructor, airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 5,874 total, 290 in this make and model, 5,400 as pilot in command, 160 in the last 90 days, 40 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Dawn
- Wind: 270° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Temperature: 52 °F, dew point 50 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: LIT, 3 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 19900523017109A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900523017109A), May 23, 1990: Piper PA32300, Little Rock, AR, Substantial damage. Engine failed on ILS approach. Landed in rough landfill. Timing. Gear had failed.

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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