Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Newberry, Michigan 49868
Saturday, January 22, 1994 13:48 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF, WHILE IN A CLIMB TO ASSIGNED ALTITUDE, THE PROPELLER BEGAN TO OVERSPEED. THE PILOT ELECTED TO RETURN TO THE AIRPORT HE HAD JUST DEPARTED. SMOKE BEGAN TO FILL THE COCKPIT, AND THE ENGINE STOPPED. THE PILOT MADE A FORCED LANDING IN A WOODED AREA. THE AIRPLANE WAS CONSUMED BY FIRE AFTER THE LANDING. THE INVESTIGATION FOUND THAT THERE WAS AN INTENSE FIRE IN THE ENGINE ACCESSORY SECTION NEAR THE TURBOCHARGER. THE OIL AND OIL FILTER HAD BEEN CHANGED THREE DAYS BEFORE THE ACCIDENT. THE ONLY FLIGHT THE AIRPLANE HAD MADE SINCE THE OIL CHANGE WAS A 2 HOUR FLIGHT THE MORNING OF THE ACCIDENT. THE OIL FILTER IS LOCATED ON THE ACCESSORY CASE NEAR THE TURBOCHARGER.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

an engine fire which started as the result of an oil leak around the engine oil filter.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 1/22/1994
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1348
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City NEWBERRY
Event State MICHIGAN
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 49868
Event Date Year 1994
Event Date Month 1
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1400 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 80
Weather Observation Facility ID YAM
Elevation of weather observation facility 630
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 45
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 14000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 2000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 15
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) -26
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -18
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 250
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 3
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Moderate
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1068
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jan 22 1994 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1830
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 6 2000 10:23AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N39505
NTSB Number CHI94LA068
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire In-flight
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-32RT-300T
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-32RT-30
Aircraft Serial Number 32R7887097
Certified Max Gross Weight 3600
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 6
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Nov 1 1993 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 60
Airframe Hours 1360
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Yes
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name JAMES D. HOLST
Aircraft Owner Street Address 8538 RIVERCREST
Aircraft Owner City JENISON
Aircraft Owner State MI
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 49428
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code ERY
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1345
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code 08C
Destination City JENISON
Destination State MI
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Climb
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --