Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Chehalis, Washington 98532
Thursday, March 28, 1991 7:40 PST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

DURING A CROSS COUNTRY FLT, THE ENG LOST PWR. DURING THE EMERGENCY DESCENT, THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH A BUILDING. THE POST CRASH ENG INSPECTION REVEALED THAT THE CRANKSHAFT GEAR WAS NOT SEATED PROPERLY DURING THE MAJOR OVERHAUL, WHICH RESULTED IN THE FATIGUE FAILURE OF THE CRANKSHAFT DOWEL. FURTHER RESEARCH REVEALED THAT DURING THE ENG OVERHAUL, A SERVICE BULLETIN WAS NOT COMPLIED WITH TO INSTALL A CRANKSHAFT GEAR THAT WAS MANUFACTURED WITH THREE, THREE QUARTOR INCH RADIUS SCALLOPS. THESE SCALLOPS ALLOW FOR INSPECTION OF THE GEAR AND CRANKSHAFT ASSEMBLY.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO AN IMPROPER OVERHAUL.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/28/1991
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 740
Event Time Zone Pacific Standard Time
Event City CHEHALIS
Event State WASHINGTON
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 98532
Event Date Year 1991
Event Date Month 3
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 Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 747 Pacific Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 133
Weather Observation Facility ID TDO
Elevation of weather observation facility 371
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 14
Time Zone of the weather observation PST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 1500
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
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) 6
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 6
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 210
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 4
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 0
Intensity of Precipitation Light
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 1
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1322
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 43917
Date of most recent change to record Dec 12 2000 9:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N6044P
NTSB Number SEA91FA076
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 None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-24-250
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-24-250
Aircraft Serial Number 24-1140
Certified Max Gross Weight 2900
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 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Mar 14 1990 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 83
Airframe Hours 3651
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name NICHOLS BROTHERS BOATBUILDERS
Aircraft Owner Street Address 5400 S. CAMERON RD.
Aircraft Owner City FREELAND
Aircraft Owner State WA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 98249
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name NICHOLS BROTHERS BOATBUILDERS
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 5400 S. CAMERON RD.
Operator City FREELAND
Operator State WA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 98249
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 Yes
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code PAE
Departure City EVERETT
Departure State WA
Departure Country
Departure Time 700
Departure Time Zone PST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code 59S
Destination City VANCOUVER
Destination State WA
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Descent
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 --