Orlando Sanford Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Sanford, Florida 32773
Thursday, June 26, 1997 17:35 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

Shortly after takeoff during level cruise flight at 1,500 feet, the engine rpm began decreasing. The pilot applied full throttle but the engine rpm continued decreasing to engine failure. While descending for a forced landing in a field, the airplane collided with and remained suspended in trees. Post crash examination of the engine revealed that the flexible oil radiator hose from the engine driven oil pump to the oil cooler was failed about 27 inches forward of the engine driven oil pump outlet. Review of the maintenance records revealed that the failed hose was last replaced on May 1, 1977, in accordance with a non-repetitive Airworthiness Directive. The airplane had accumulated 2,388.1 hours since replacement 20 years 1 month and 25 days earlier. The hose is a on-condition item.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Failure of the oil cooler radiator hose which resulted in oil exhaustion and subsequent engine failure. Contributing to the accident was the failure of the FAA to require a recurrent detailed examination and or require those hoses be life limited to prevent failure. Also, unsuitable terrain encountered by the pilot during the emergency descent for a forced landing.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/26/1997
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1735
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City SANFORD
Event State FLORIDA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 32773
Event Date Year 1997
Event Date Month 6
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport ORLANDO SANFORD AIRPORT
Event Location Nearest Airport ID SFB
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 55
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1735 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID SFB
Elevation of weather observation facility 55
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
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) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 26
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 23
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 310
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 10
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) 593
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jun 26 1997 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 8 2000 12:21PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N859KW
NTSB Number MIA97LA196
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-28-140
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-28-140
Aircraft Serial Number 28-25607
Certified Max Gross Weight 2150
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 Sep 9 1996 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 75
Airframe Hours 4309
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name JULIET SIERRA AVIATION, INC.
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? No
Operator Street Address 2635 DONALDSON DR.
Operator City ORLANDO
Operator State FL
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 32812
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 SFB
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1733
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
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 --