Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Liberty, Texas 77575
Sunday, January 14, 1990 11:00 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

DURING CRUISE FLIGHT AT 3500 FEET, THE AIRCRAFT YAWED VIOLENTLY LEFT, FOLLOWED BY AN ENGINE SHUTDOWN. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED A INFLIGHT ENGINE RESTART WITHOUT SUCCESS. LANDING WAS MADE TO A PASTURE WITH THE GEAR UP DUE TO THE SUSPECTED WET GROUND CONDITIONS. DURING THE GROUND RUN, THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK A FENCE ROW, RESULTING IN SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. THE VIOLENT YAW AND ENGINE SHUTDOWN WAS THE RESULT OF THE TAPPET FACE FAILURES. EXAMINATION OF THE FACES DID NOT DETERMINE THE FAILURE MODE.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO FAILURE OF THE TAPPET FACES. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE UNSUITABLE TERRAIN IN WHICH THE FORCED LANDING WAS MADE.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 1/14/1990
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1100
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City LIBERTY
Event State TEXAS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 77575
Event Date Year 1990
Event Date Month 1
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 1050 Central Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 244
Weather Observation Facility ID IAH
Elevation of weather observation facility 98
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 40
Time Zone of the weather observation CST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 10000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 4500
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
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) 17
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 12
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 120
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 8
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 70
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) 330
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jan 14 1990 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1610
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 41140
Date of most recent change to record Dec 12 2000 4:43PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N8128B
NTSB Number FTW90LA055
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-32R-301T
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-32R-301
Aircraft Serial Number 32R8029018
Certified Max Gross Weight 6500
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 7
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection May 29 1990 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 24
Airframe Hours 1050
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name CONRAD MAGAUIRK
Aircraft Owner Street Address 400 S. BURNET
Aircraft Owner City BAYTOWN
Aircraft Owner State TX
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 77520
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
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 No
Departure Airport Code RNJ
Departure City BAYTOWN
Departure State TX
Departure Country
Departure Time 1030
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code HNO
Destination City HENDERSON
Destination State TX
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
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 0
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --