Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Felton, Pennsylvania 17322
Tuesady, June 16, 1992 15:30 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

AFTER TAKEOFF, FOLLOWING THE INSTALLATION OF A PROPELLER GOVERNOR OIL LINE, A LOSS OF OIL PRESSURE WAS NOTICED. A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING WAS MADE IN A WHEAT FIELD. THE OIL RETURN LINE FROM THE NUMBER THREE CYLINDER WAS FOUND DISCONNECTED. THE MECHANIC WHO PERFORMED THE WORK STATED HE WAS A ONE MAN SHOP AND DUE TO DIFFICULTIES, THE JOB TOOK 3 HOURS INSTEAD OF THE PROJECTED 1 1/2 HOURS. HE ALSO SAID HE ALLOWED CUSTOMER PRESSURE TO OVERRIDE HIS STANDARDS.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING IN UNSUITABLE TERRAIN. AN ADDITIONAL CAUSE WAS THE FAILURE OF THE MECHANIC TO TIGHTEN THE OIL RETURN LINE ON THE NUMBER THREE CYLINDER. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PRESSURE THE MECHANIC FELT TO COMPLETE THE JOB IN A TIMELY MANNER.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/16/1992
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1530
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City FELTON
Event State PENNSYLVANIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 17322
Event Date Year 1992
Event Date Month 6
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 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1550 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 50
Weather Observation Facility ID LNS
Elevation of weather observation facility 403
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 21
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 25000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 25
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 25
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 14
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 180
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 12
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
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 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 398
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jun 16 1992 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1740
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 3:00PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N21RE
NTSB Number NYC92LA119
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-24-180
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-24-180
Aircraft Serial Number 24-1718
Certified Max Gross Weight 2550
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 Sep 1 1991 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 72
Airframe Hours 1585
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name HUGH J. HARMON
Aircraft Owner Street Address 660 GATEWAY DRIVE SE 111
Aircraft Owner City LEESBURG
Aircraft Owner State VA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 22075
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name HUGH J. HARMON
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 660 GATEWAY DRIVE SE 111
Operator City LEESBURG
Operator State VA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 22075
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) Instructional
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code 37PA
Departure City SMOKETOWN
Departure State PA
Departure Country
Departure Time 1530
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code FDK
Destination City FREDERICK
Destination State MD
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:30AM
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 --