Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Red Oak, Iowa 51566
Thursday, December 19, 1996 14:21 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The temperature at takeoff was about 0 degrees F. The aircraft had been kept in an unheated hangar. An oil heater was installed on the aircraft. Oil pressure was in the yellow arc during departure and it stayed in the yellow arc during the flight. The pilot continued the flight although suitable airports were available for precautionary landings. After about 30 to 45 minutes of flight, the prop started surging and the oil pressure went 'way down.' After about a minute, the engine started knocking and quit. The pilot executed a forced landing. After the accident, oil was all over the top of the engine, the oil cap was on tight, and about 4 quarts of oil still showed on the oil dipstick. The engine inspection revealed a hole in the crankcase above the number 2 and 4 cylinders. The number 2, 3, and 5 connecting rod bearings were burned with signs of meltdown. The number 4 connecting rod and bearing had separated from the crankshaft and exhibited heat damage and failure. The oil passages were checked and no obstructions were found. The oil cooler was checked and fluids flowed through the cooler.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the pilot's inadequate preflight and failure to make a precautionary landing. Additional factors included oil starvation and the failed connecting rod and rod bearing.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 12/19/1996
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1421
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City RED OAK
Event State IOWA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 51566
Event Date Year 1996
Event Date Month 12
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 Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1420 Central Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 180
Weather Observation Facility ID RDK
Elevation of weather observation facility 1044
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 3
Time Zone of the weather observation CST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 2900
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 1600
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) 7
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) -24
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -18
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 250
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) 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) 1318
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jan 9 1997 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1726
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2000 10:29AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N446RD
NTSB Number CHI97LA050
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-46
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-46
Aircraft Serial Number 46-8408073
Certified Max Gross Weight 4300
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 30 1995 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 230
Airframe Hours 2400
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name CHB EXPRESS LTD
Aircraft Owner Street Address 2316 BAYNARD BLVD
Aircraft Owner City WILMINGTON
Aircraft Owner State DE
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 19802
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 4D8
Departure City MILFORD
Departure State IA
Departure Country
Departure Time 1330
Departure Time Zone CST
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code RDK
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight --
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 --