Buchanan Field Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Concord, California 94520
Wednesday, September 2, 1992 14:41 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The following Brief was modified on April18, 2007, as a result of new information provided to the NTSB. THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH A BRIDGE WHILE TRYING TO RETURN TO THE AIRPORT AFTER REPORTING AN EMERGENCY DURING THE PREVIOUS TOUCH AND GO LANDING. WITNESSES INDICATED BOTH ENGINES SOUNDED LIKE THEY WERE RUNNING AND BOTH PROPELLERS WERE TURNING. THE LEFT ENGINE PROPELLER WAS FOUND FEATHERED AFTER THE ACCIDENT. INVESTIGATION REVEALED A 1.75 INCH OD PLUG INSTALLED IN THE CRANKSHAFT TO SEPARATE OIL PRESSURE FROM THE PROPELLER GOVERNOR AND THE ENGINE CRANKCASE WAS BLOWN AFT DAMAGING THE NUMBER ONE ROD CONNECTING JOURNAL OIL TRANSFER TUBE. EXAMINATION OF THE PLUG DISCLOSED THAT IT WAS INSTALLED BACKWARDS.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The following Probable Cause was modified on April18, 2007, as a result of new information provided to the NTSB. THE IMPROPER INSTALLATION OF THE 1.75 INCH OD PLUG IN THE CRANKSHAFT BY UNKNOWN MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL WHICH RESULTED IN AN INADVERTENT FEATHERING OF THE LEFT ENGINE PROPELLER.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/2/1992
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1441
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City CONCORD
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 94520
Event Date Year 1992
Event Date Month 9
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport BUCHANAN FIELD
Event Location Nearest Airport ID CCR
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 10
Airport Elevation 23
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1441 Pacific Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 10
Weather Observation Facility ID CCR
Elevation of weather observation facility 23
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 1
Time Zone of the weather observation PDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 20000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 40
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 26
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 11
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 300
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 13
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 Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal 2
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 827
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Sep 2 1992 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1514
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 48326
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 3:18PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N4305Y
NTSB Number LAX92FA374
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire Ground
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-23-160
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-23-160
Aircraft Serial Number 2028
Certified Max Gross Weight 3800
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 5
Number of Engines 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jan 23 1992 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name CHAVOSSY, LOUIS
Aircraft Owner Street Address 1120 EAST HILLSDALE BLVD.
Aircraft Owner City FOSTER CITY
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 94404
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name CHAVOSSY, LOUIS
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 1120 EAST HILLSDALE BLVD.
Operator City FOSTER CITY
Operator State CA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 94404
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 HWD
Departure City HAYWARD
Departure State CA
Departure Country
Departure Time 1405
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
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 19
Runway Length 4400
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --