# NTSB NYC95LA134: Piper PA-24-180, N16WW, Morehead, KY, June 28, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 28, 1995, 08:20 local (12:20 UTC) - Place: Morehead, KY - Coordinates: 38.19086, -83.440673 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.1909&lon=-83.4407&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 16, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 38979 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC95LA134 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/38979/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC95LA134 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to assure that an inadequate oil supply was available fot the flight. ## 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,connecting rod bolt - reversed - maintenance,overhaul,major - improper, owner/pilot mechanic - fluid,oil - starvation (cause) - aircraft preflight - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - Overrun, landing - roll - airport facilities,runway overrun area - high obstruction(s) - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - short runway/landing area - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - object - residence ## Analysis THE PILOT STATED THAT WHILE AT A CRUISE ALTITUDE OF 4,500 FEET MSL THE 'ANNUNCIATOR LIGHTS STARTED BLINKING AND THEN BECAME SOLID.' HE THEN NOTED THAT THE OIL PRESSURE 'NEEDLE REGISTERED NO OIL.' THE ENGINE LOST POWER, AND THE PILOT ELECTED TO LAND AT THE NEAREST AIRPORT. THE AIRPLANE TOUCHED DOWN HALFWAY DOWN A 2,600-FOOT RUNWAY WHICH HAD HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS AT THE APPROACH END. THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE AIRPLANE ON THE REMAINING RUNWAY, SKIDDED ACROSS GRASS WITH HEAVY DEW AND IMPACTED A BACK PORCH OF A MOBILE HOME. EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED IT WAS DEPLETED OF OIL. THE ENGINE TEARDOWN REVEALED THAT BOTH COMPRESSION RINGS ON THE NUMBER TWO CYLINDER WERE FRACTURED IN SEVERAL PIECES; THE CAMSHAFT WAS ENGRAVED WITH THE WORDING 'NOT A CERTIFIED PART;' AND ALL EIGHT ROD BOLT NUTS WERE INSTALLED UPSIDE DOWN. THE ENGINE RECORDS REVEALED THAT THE LAST ENGINE OVERHAUL WAS ON 7/5/92. ## Factual narrative On June 28, 1995, about 0820 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-24-180, N16WW, collided with a mobile home after a forced landing at the Morehead-Rowan County Airport (I32), Morehead, Kentucky. The airplane was substantially damaged. The private pilot and one passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The personal flight was being conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. While en route from Huntington, West Virginia to Broomfield, Colorado, and at a cruise altitude of 4500 feet mean sea level, the pilot stated that the "annunciator lights started blinking and then became solid." The pilot then noted that the oil pressure "needle registered no oil." The engine lost power, and the pilot elected to land at I32. The airplane touched halfway down runway 23, which had high obstructions at the approach end, and was 2600 feet long and 75 feet wide. The pilot stated she was unable to stop the airplane on the remaining runway, skidded across "low grass with a heavy dew" and impacted with the back porch of a mobile home. The FAA examined the engine at the accident site and observed that it was depleted of oil. The engine was disassembled on July 14, 1995. The following discrepancies were noted by the FAA Inspector during the disassembly: Both compression rings on number two (2) cylinder were fractured in several pieces; the camshaft was engraved with the wording "Not a certified part;" and all eight rod bolt nuts were installed upside-down. The engine records, revealed that the last overhauled on the engine was on July 5, 1992. The private pilot's total flight time was 1,400 hours, of which 200 hours were in this make and model airplane. At the time of the accident the wind was variable, from 230 degrees. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N16WW](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N16WW-2013-03-25), registration cancelled 2013-03-25, S/N 24-165, built 1958 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-24-180 - Registry model: [Piper PA-24-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-24-180) (registry code 7102403) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 24-180 - Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A1A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Paul L. & Eddie E. Whistle - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: HTS, HUNTINGTON, WV - Destination: LOU, LOUISVILLE, KY - Airport: I32, Moorehead-Rowan, runway 23, 2,600 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 69; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 1,400 total, 200 in this make and model, 1,300 as pilot in command, 28 in the last 90 days, 26 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °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 19950628015559A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950628015559A), Jun 28, 1995: Piper PA24180, Morehead, KY, Substantial damage. Engine siezed. Landed on runway but ran off. Struck mobile home off side of runway. ## Other investigations on N16WW (1) 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. - [NTSB DEN91LA125](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN91LA125), Sep 8, 1991: Piper PA-24-180 (N16WW), Broomfield, CO, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO REFUEL AND HIS MISJUDGED FUEL CONSUMPTION CALCULATIONS WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL EXHAUSTION POWER LOSS. 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.