Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

So. Lake Tahoe, California 95705
Monday, July 15, 1991 12:45 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE ENGINE FAILED WHILE THE AIRCRAFT WAS OVER LAKE TAHOE, CALIFORNIA, IN CRUISE FLIGHT. THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO REACH AN AIRPORT AND DITCHED IN THE LAKE. AN EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE AFTER THE ACCIDENT DISCLOSED THAT THE CRANKSHAFT FAILED. METALLURGICAL EXAMINATION DISCLOSED THE FAILURE RESULTED FROM FATIGUE INDUCED BY A NON-METALLIC INCLUSION IN THE SHAFT.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

ENGINE FAILUE DUE TO THE FAILURE OF THE CRANKSHAFT RESULTING FROM FAILURE INDUCED BY A NON-METALLIC INCLUSION IN THE SHAFT.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/15/1991
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1245
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City SO. LAKE TAHOE
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 95705
Event Date Year 1991
Event Date Month 7
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 1140 Pacific Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 145
Weather Observation Facility ID TVL
Elevation of weather observation facility 6264
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 10
Time Zone of the weather observation PDT
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) 50
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 22
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 2
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 210
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 9
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 5
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1977
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 46027
Date of most recent change to record Dec 12 2000 10:32AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N646RL
NTSB Number LAX91LA314
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 PA28R-200
Aircraft Series Identifier PA28R-200
Aircraft Serial Number 28R35013
Certified Max Gross Weight 2600
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 Jun 1 1991 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 45
Airframe Hours 2888
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name LAURAIN, JACK J. & JOANNE M.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 1432 LINDA SUE LANE
Aircraft Owner City ENCINITAS
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 92024
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name RHUMB LINE LTD
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 2851 PIONEER AVENUE, SUITE A
Operator City VISTA
Operator State CA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 92083
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 RNO
Departure City RENO
Departure State NV
Departure Country
Departure Time 1200
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code CRQ
Destination City CARLSBAD
Destination State CA
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Cruise
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:35AM
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 --