# NTSB NYC95LA130: Piper PA-32-260, N16354, Ashland, VA, May 31, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 31, 1995, 17:35 local (21:35 UTC) - Place: Ashland, VA - Coordinates: 37.760261, -77.469436 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.7603&lon=-77.4694&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 16, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 38975 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC95LA130 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/38975/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC95LA130 ## Probable cause a loss of engine power due to a subsurface fatigue crack in the crankshaft which led to failure of the crankshaft. ## 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,crankshaft - fatigue (cause) - engine assembly,crankshaft - failure,total - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - In flight collision with object, emergency descent/landing - object - tree(s) ## Analysis THE FLIGHT WAS AT 6,000 FT WHEN THE ENGINE STARTED TO VIBRATE AND LOSE POWER. THE PILOT SET UP FOR A FORCED LANDING AT AN AIRPORT. THE VIBRATION INCREASED AND THE POWER LOSS CONTINUED. OIL STARTED TO COVER THE WINDSHIELD, AND THE PILOT FOUND IT NECESSARY TO SLIP TO SEE AHEAD WHICH FURTHER REDUCED HIS AIRSPEED AND ALTITUDE. THE AIRPLANE LANDED 1/4 MILE SHORT OF THE RUNWAY IN TREES. EXAMINATION OF ENGINE FOUND THE CRANKSHAFT HAD FAILED ON THE FRONT FACE OF THE NUMBER 2 CRANK PIN. METALLURGICAL EXAMINATION REVEALED FRACTURE FEATURES TYPICAL OF A FATIGUE CRACK THAT ORIGINATED BELOW THE SURFACE. ## Factual narrative On May 31, 1995, at 1735 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA- 32-260, N16354, was destroyed during a forced landing in Ashland, Virginia. The private pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and the flight, which had departed Emporia, Virginia, at 1700, was operated on an Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) flight plan under 14 CFR Part 91. In the NTSB Accident Report, the pilot stated: ...At 6000 [feet] routine flight until vibration started with some loss of power...The vibration and power loss worsened...I was unable to maintain altitude and speed, but the airport looked "makeable". Unfortunately a large amount of oil then appeared from the cowling and covered the windshield. This was about 4000 ft, and 8 miles. I had to start slipping to see forward and each time the drag slowed the plane and caused altitude loss. The vibration and power loss worsened, until about 3/4 mile short of the runway the engine stopped. I was close to stall speed so I put the nose down and tried to restart the engine. This failed. I could not make the runway so I slipped to see forward and saw a stand of small trees and aimed for them. Close in I shut off the fuel, magnetos, electrics, and opened the door. About 50 yds out I saw power lines and nosed under them, then pulled the flaps, raised the nose and mushed into the trees. The FAA reported that the airplane came to rest about 1/4 mile from the approach end of runway 16. Both wings and the fuselage were bent. Examination of the engine found a hole on the top, next to the number 2 cylinder. No oil was found in the engine. During engine disassembly, the crankshaft was found fractured at the forward crossover check of the number 2 crank pin. According to the NTSB Metallurgical Report, # 96-5: ...fracture revealed features typical of a fatigue crack that originated...approximately 0.05 inch below the forward radius surface...Fatigue propagation was...through at least 75 % of the rod journal cross section. The remaining portion of the fractures was damaged by post-fracture mechanical contact which obliterated the original fracture features. ...Rockwell superficial hardness testing performed on the nitride surface of the #2 main journal produced an average hardness of 70HR30N, which was above the specified minimum hardness. ...The nitride case and core hardness were within the specified depth and hardness range, respectively...The microstructure contained no metallurgical anomalies. ...Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopic analysis of the section produced a spectrum consistent with the composition of a 4300 series steel. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N16354](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N16354-2014-09-10), registration cancelled 2014-09-10, S/N 32-7300025, built 1973 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32-260 - Registry model: [Piper PA-32-260](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32-260) (registry code 7103206) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (registry code 41532, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 32-7300025 - Airframe hours: 3788 - Engines: LYCOMING O-540-E4B5 260 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Michael J. Bigg - Registered owner: Aero Services Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, January 13, 1995, 74 hours before - Departed: EMV, EMPORIA, VA - Destination: JYO, LEESBURG, VA - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: W83, Hanover Co. Muni, runway 16, 4,648 × 80 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 43; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 415 total, 69 in this make and model, 321 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 140° at 5 knots - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg ## 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 19950531017349A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950531017349A), May 31, 1995: Piper PA32260, Ashland, VA, Destroyed. Engine problem. Landed half mile short runway. Cause problem not addressed. 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.