Athens/Ben Epps Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Athens, Georgia 30605
Wednesday, December 6, 1995 8:13 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

During cruise flight, in instrument meteorological conditions, the engine quit. The pilot established an emergency descent, and received radar vectors to a nearby airport. Subsequently, the airplane collided with the ground one mile east of the airport. A post accident examination of the engine disclosed that the engine oil was contaminated with aluminum flakes, and several internal components were damaged. The number 3 piston pin was scored, and the cylinder wall was damaged. A review of the aircraft maintenance logs disclosed that six flight hours prior to the engine failure, aluminum flakes were discovered in the engine oil. According to the mechanic who repaired the engine, the number 2 and 4 cylinder piston pin caps were scored. The mechanic flushed the engine of the metal flakes and repaired the number 2 and 4 cylinders.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The mechanic's failure to adequately inspect and repair the engine, which resulted in engine oil contamination, and the subsequent loss of engine power. A factor was the low ceiling.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 12/6/1995
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 813
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City ATHENS
Event State GEORGIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 30605
Event Date Year 1995
Event Date Month 12
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport ATHENS/BEN EPPS
Event Location Nearest Airport ID AHN
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 90
Airport Elevation 808
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 825 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 90
Weather Observation Facility ID AHN
Elevation of weather observation facility 808
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 1
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 100
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Obscured
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 0
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 8
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 8
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 260
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 4
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 800
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 2
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1943
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Dec 5 1995 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 830
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 7 2000 4:48PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Instrument Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N180KH
NTSB Number ATL96LA019
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Piper
Aircraft Model PA-28-180
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-28-180
Aircraft Serial Number 28-3830
Certified Max Gross Weight 2175
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 Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Mar 13 1995 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 200
Airframe Hours 3110
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Yes
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name TROUP COUNTY AIRPORT
Aircraft Owner Street Address 200 AIRPORT CIRCLE
Aircraft Owner City LAGRANGE
Aircraft Owner State GA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 30240
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) Business
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code LGC
Departure City LAGRANGE
Departure State GA
Departure Country
Departure Time 700
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code SPA
Destination City SPARTENBURG
Destination State SC
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 27
Runway Length 5500
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --