Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

North Anson, Maine 04958
Saturday, September 10, 1994 13:00 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT AND PASSENGER WERE ON THE SECOND LEG OF A CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT. THIRTY MINUTES INTO THE FLIGHT A VIBRATION BEGAN, FOLLOWED BY OIL SEEPING FROM THE ENGINE COWLING. A FEW SECONDS LATER THE ENGINE FAILED AND OIL COVERED THE AIRPLANE WINDSHIELD. THE PILOT PERFORMED A FORCED LANDING TO AN OPEN FIELD WITH NO FORWARD VISIBILITY DUE TO THE OIL. THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE AIRPLANE BEFORE IT STRUCK TREES AT THE END OF THE FIELD. EXAMINATION REVEALED THAT THE NUMBER TWO CYLINDER HAD SEPARATED FROM THE ENGINE. SEVEN OF THE EIGHT CYLINDER STUDS HAD SHEARED. THE STUD NOT SHEARED WAS INTACT AND UNDAMAGED. AN UPPER STUD WAS RUSTED PARTIALLY ACROSS, WITH THE REMAINDER OF THE STUD SHEARED CLEANLY. THE ENGINE HAD BEEN OVERHAULED 362 TACH HOURS BEFORE THE FAILURE BY A LOCAL ENGINE OVERHAUL FACILITY.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the inadequately installed cylinder mounting stud nuts, by the engine overhaul facility, which resulted in the separation of the number two cylinder and the subsequent forced landing.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/10/1994
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1300
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City NORTH ANSON
Event State MAINE
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 04958
Event Date Year 1994
Event Date Month 9
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 1255 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 170
Weather Observation Facility ID WVL
Elevation of weather observation facility 333
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 21
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 4600
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 3900
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) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 15
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 6
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 260
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 7
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 2
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 959
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Sep 10 1994 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1500
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 6 2000 12:17PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N55GV
NTSB Number NYC94LA174
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-24-250
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-24-250
Aircraft Serial Number 24-401
Certified Max Gross Weight 2800
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 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection May 1 1994 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 51
Airframe Hours 3218
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name O & N AIRCRAFT MODIFICATIONS
Aircraft Owner Street Address SEAMANS AIRPORT, PO BOX 292
Aircraft Owner City FACTORYVILLE
Aircraft Owner State PA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 18419
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 No
Departure Airport Code 81B
Departure City OXFORD
Departure State ME
Departure Country
Departure Time 1230
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code 3B1
Destination City GREENVILLE
Destination State ME
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Cruise
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 --