WPR22LA081

The pilot was conducting a night cross-country flight when he noticed the engine oil pressure gauge indicating lower that it had been earlier in the flight. Although the engine was running fine, he started to look at the possibilities of gliding to an airport if needed. The pilot decided that he was not in an emergency situation; however, he altered his intended flight path to avoid a mountainous area and remain over a highway. After passing the highway and nearing an airport, the oil pressure dropped to near zero and the pilot started to make plans for an emergency landing. He attempted to turn the lights on at a nearby airport but was unsuccessful. The pilot decided to continue to another airport, which was about 22 nautical miles from his position. About halfway to the next airport, the engine noise started to change, followed by a reduction of engine power. He said the engine oil pressure gauge indicated zero and he subsequently added full power while looking for a place to land. Soon afterwards, the engine made “horrible noises” and lost all power. The pilot landed the airplane on a narrow graveled road between a chain link fence and a water canal. During the landing sequence, the right wing struck the fence, which resulted in substantial damage to the right wing, both ailerons, the left horizontal stabilizer, and the left elevator. Postaccident examination of the engine revealed that the No. 3 piston oil control ring was stuck in its ring land resulting in an excessive blow-by condition. The blow-by condition caused the engine crankcase to pressurize and vent oil from the crankshaft oil seal, crankcase breather system, and the No. 3 combustion chamber until the sump was depleted of oil. This oil depletion resulted in the thermal distress and material deformation of the No. 2 connecting rod bearing and crankshaft journal and the subsequent separation of the No. 2 connecting rod.

On January 17, 2022, about 2256 mountain standard time, a Piper PA-28 airplane, N5276W, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Scottsdale, Arizona. The pilot sustained minor injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. According to the pilot, about halfway through the night cross-country flight, he noticed the engine oil pressure gauge was indicating lower than it had been earlier in the flight. Although the engine was running fine, he started to look at the possibilities of gliding to an airport, if needed. The pilot decided that he was not in an emergency situation but altered his intended flight path, which was over a mountainous area, to overfly a southbound highway. After passing the highway and nearing the Sky Ranch at Carefree (18AZ), Carefree, Arizona, the oil pressure dropped to near zero and the pilot started to make plans for an emergency landing. He attempted to turn on the lights at 18AZ but was unsuccessful. He decided to continue the flight to Falcon Field (FFZ), Mesa, Arizona, which was about 22 nautical miles southeast of his position. Near Fountain Hills, Arizona, the engine noise started to change, followed by a drop in power. He said the engine oil pressure gauge indicated zero, and he subsequently added full power as he was looking for a place to land. Soon afterwards, the engine made “horrible noises” and lost all power. The pilot landed the airplane on a narrow, graveled road between a chain link fence and a water canal, impacting the fence with the right wing. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing, both ailerons, the left horizontal stabilizer, and the left elevator. Postaccident examination of engine revealed that the lower side of the engine, lower cowling, firewall, and aircraft belly were covered in an oil residue. The crankshaft could only be rotated by hand about 270°. The engine was disassembled. The crankshaft oil seal area was wet with oil and the split style oil seal was installed with a solid ring stretch oil seal spring. The oil dipstick indicated no oil, and the oil sump was undamaged and contained no oil. The crankcase breather hose was oil soaked. The No. 2 connecting rod was separated from the crankshaft. The No. 2 connecting rod crankshaft journal and connecting rod bearing revealed thermal distress and material deformation. The No. 3 cylinder combustion chamber and piston were covered in oil. The No. 3 piston oil control ring was stuck in the respective ring land. The No. 3 cylinder exhaust pipe exhibited a darker color of combustion deposits when compared to the other exhaust pipes. The maintenance documentation revealed that the last annual inspection was completed on December 14, 2021. At that time the engine had 2,523 hours of operation since major overhaul. An “engine miss” was reported, and on January 7, 2022, the No. 3 cylinder spark plugs were found both fouled with oil.