Hanover Co. Muni Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Ashland, Virginia 23005
Wednesday, May 31, 1995 17:35 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE FLIGHT WAS AT 6,000 FT WHEN THE ENGINE STARTED TO VIBRATE AND LOSE POWER. THE PILOT SET UP FOR A FORCED LANDING AT AN AIRPORT. THE VIBRATION INCREASED AND THE POWER LOSS CONTINUED. OIL STARTED TO COVER THE WINDSHIELD, AND THE PILOT FOUND IT NECESSARY TO SLIP TO SEE AHEAD WHICH FURTHER REDUCED HIS AIRSPEED AND ALTITUDE. THE AIRPLANE LANDED 1/4 MILE SHORT OF THE RUNWAY IN TREES. EXAMINATION OF ENGINE FOUND THE CRANKSHAFT HAD FAILED ON THE FRONT FACE OF THE NUMBER 2 CRANK PIN. METALLURGICAL EXAMINATION REVEALED FRACTURE FEATURES TYPICAL OF A FATIGUE CRACK THAT ORIGINATED BELOW THE SURFACE.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

a loss of engine power due to a subsurface fatigue crack in the crankshaft which led to failure of the crankshaft.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/31/1995
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1735
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City ASHLAND
Event State VIRGINIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 23005
Event Date Year 1995
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport HANOVER CO. MUNI
Event Location Nearest Airport ID W83
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 1
Degrees magnetic from airport 340
Airport Elevation 205
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 20
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 29
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 12
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 140
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
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) 2090
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date May 31 1995 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1838
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 7 2000 4:16PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N16354
NTSB Number NYC95LA130
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 None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-32-260
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-32-260
Aircraft Serial Number 32-7300025
Certified Max Gross Weight 3400
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 Jan 13 1995 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 74
Airframe Hours 3788
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name AERO SERVICES INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 332 SOUTH MAIN STREET
Aircraft Owner City EMPORIA
Aircraft Owner State NY
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 23847
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name MICHAEL J. BIGG
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 405 LAUREL STREET
Operator City EMPORIA
Operator State VA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 23847
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 EMV
Departure City EMPORIA
Departure State VA
Departure Country
Departure Time 1700
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code JYO
Destination City LEESBURG
Destination State VA
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 16
Runway Length 4648
Runway Width 80
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --