# NTSB SEA77FA044: Piper PA-32, N55653, Coulee City, WA, July 17, 1977

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: July 17, 1977
- Place: Coulee City, WA · COULEE CITY, WA
- Location: 47.6117° N, 119.2895° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Coulee City, WA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.6117&lon=-119.2895&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report January 31, 1978
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 145501
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA77FA044
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA77FA044

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-4130  77/7/17  NR.COULEE CITY,WA     PIPER PA-32         CR-  0  0  1  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, AGE 40, 5750
        TIME - 1850                    N55653              PX-  0  0  0  COMMUTER AIR CARRIER      TOTAL HOURS, 1410 IN
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0  AIR TAXI-CARGO S-D        TYPE, NOT INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION         LAST ENROUTE STOP
          OMAK,WA                     EPHRATA,WA                   COULEE DAM,WA
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: CONTROLLED                  LANDING: LEVEL OFF/TOUCHDOWN
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           POWERPLANT - REDUCTION GEAR ASSEMBLY: GEARS,ACCESSORY DRIVE
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - SHEARED
           TERRAIN - ROUGH/UNEVEN
        COMPLETE POWER LOSS - COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE/FLAMEOUT-1 ENGINE
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON LAND
        REMARKS- CRANKSHAFT GEAR RETAINING SCREW FAILED.GR DISENGAGED FM OTR ACCESSORY GEARS.LYC P/N STD-1937.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N55653](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N55653-2014-10-28), registration cancelled 2014-10-28, S/N 32-7340131, built 1973 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32
- Registry model: [Piper PA-32-300](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32-300) (registry code 7103212) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming TI0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (registry code 41533, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage

## Other investigations on N55653 (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 MIA91LA138](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA91LA138), May 9, 1991: Piper PA-32-300 (N55653), Clearwater, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: INADEQUATE ANNUAL INSPECTION OF THE AIRPLANE BY MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL WHO FAILED TO DETECT A DETERIORATED OIL LINE. THIS RESULTED IN OIL EXHAUSTION CAUSING THE TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO…

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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