# NTSB NYC94LA058: Piper PA-28RT-201T, N8335X, Warfordsburg, PA, March 15, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 15, 1994, 17:15 local (22:15 UTC) - Place: Warfordsburg, PA - Coordinates: 39.769042, -78.200057 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.7690&lon=-78.2001&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 4 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 18, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 38736 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC94LA058 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/38736/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC94LA058 ## 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 In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - mech failure/malf, cruise - normal - engine assembly,bearing - not secured (cause) - lubricating system - blocked(partial) (cause) - engine assembly,connecting rod - failure,total (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - snow covered (contributing factor) ## 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](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8335X), registered now, S/N 28R-8331013, built 1982 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28RT-201T (PA-28RT-20) - Registry model: [Piper PA-28RT-201T](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28rt-201t) (registry code 7102817) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-360-series) (registry code 17019, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28R8331013 - Airframe hours: 1720 - Engines: 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 ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 56; 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 (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19940315005469A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940315005469A), Mar 15, 1994: Piper PA28RT201T, Warfordsburg, PA, Substantial damage. Lost oil pressure and power. Gear sheared landing. Connecting rod starved of oil by bearing shift. Rod then 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.