- Date
- March 15, 1994, 17:15 local (22:15 UTC)
- Place
- Warfordsburg, PA
- Injuries
- 4 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N8335XPiper PA-28RT-201T
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report November 18, 1994
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19940315005469A
- Case key
- 38736
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 engine failure as a result of a main bearing shift and restricted lubrication, and the lack of suitable terrain for a forced landing.
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
While cruising at 5000 feet, the pilot observed the oil pressure fluctuating and drop to zero. The engine started to run roughly and smoke emanated from the cowling. The pilot shutdown the engine and initiated a forced landing. He landed on a snow covered field and the landing gear collapsed during the landing roll. An examination of the engine revealed the fracture of the number 2 cylinder connecting rod. The number 2 main bearing appeared to have shifted forward, blocking the oil supply to this bearing. Eventually the bearing overheated, and the connecting rod failed.
Factual narrative
On Tuesday, March 15, 1994 at 1715 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-28RT-201T, N8335X, registered to and piloted by Lee Taylor, was substantially damaged during a forced landing in Wardfordsburg, Pennsylvania. The pilot and three passengers were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and IFR flight plan was filed. The flight was being conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.
The pilot stated in his report:
At approximately 30 to 35 minutes into the flight I noticed the engine oil pressure gauge fluctuating....I asked Cleveland Center ...for vectors to the nearest airport...the oil pressure went to "0" and the...annunciator light illuminated....I...selected a farm field for an emergency landing. The ground was snow covered...Upon landing the landing gear sheared ...
Mr. Jeffrey D. Halliday, an Air Safety Inspector for the Federal Aviation Administration, examined the engine on March 29, 1994. In his report, Mr. Halliday stated:
Inspection of the engine revealed one of the connecting rods had failed and was protruding from the case near the number two cylinder.
...a review of the aircraft records was satisfactory.
The failure of this engine was caused by #2 bearing shifting and shutting off oil to the #2 and #3 connecting rods.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N8335X
- Reported as
- Piper PA-28RT-201T (PA-28RT-20)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 28R8331013
- Airframe hours
- 1,720
- Engine
- Continental TSIO-360-FB, 200 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Lee Taylor
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · December 3, 1993 · 32 hours before
- Departed
- BTP · Butler, PA
- Destination
- JYO · Leesburg, VA
- 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
- 56
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 1,203 total · 825 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Visibility
- 30 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 6,500 ft broken
- Temperature
- 39 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.