Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Worcester, Massachusetts 01605
Tuesady, February 13, 1990 20:31 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

AT NIGHT, WHILE ENROUTE TO NORTHAMPTON, MASSACHUSETTS, THE AIRPLANE ENGINE FAILED. THE PILOT LANDED IN THE PARKING LOT OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS MEDICAL CENTER, WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, AND COLLIDED WITH A CAR AND A UTILITY POLE THAT COULD NOT HAVE BEEN AVOIDED. THE ENGINE EXAMINATION REVEALED THE OIL PUMP FAILED. THE CONNECTING RODS WERE OVERTEMPERTURED, AND THE BEARINGS OF THE CONNECTING RODS HAD FAILED. BENCH BINOCULAR MICROSCOPIC EXAMINATION OF THE DRIVE AND DRIVEN IMPELLER FRACTURE SURFACES OF THE OIL PUMP REVEALED THAT THEY BROKE AS A RESULT OF OVERSTRESS SEPARATIONS. THE DRIVEN IMPELLER HAD CHARACTERISTICS TYPICAL OF A SINTERED-POWER-METAL COMPONENTS, THE TOTAL TIME ON THE COMPONENT WAS 1828.0 HOURS. THE DRIVE IMPELLER APPEARED TO BE MACHINED FROM BARSTOCK (STEEL). SB-456C TIME OF COMPLIANCE WAS AT NEXT OVERHAUL, NOT TO EXCEED 2000 HOURS WITH SINTERED IRON GEARS.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

A POWER LOSS DUE TO AN OIL PUMP FAILURE WHILE OPERATING OVER UNSUITABLE TERRAIN. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS NIGHT CONDITIONS.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 2/13/1990
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 2031
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City WORCESTER
Event State MASSACHUSETTS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 01605
Event Date Year 1990
Event Date Month 2
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 Unknown
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 0
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Night/Dark
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) 8
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) -18
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -18
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) 0
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None 3
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 2321
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Feb 13 1990 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2250
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 45947
Date of most recent change to record Dec 18 2002 11:28AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\GIUV
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N763DS
NTSB Number NYC90LA068
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-28-181
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-28-181
Aircraft Serial Number 28-7690331
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 Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection 0
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name
Aircraft Owner Street Address
Aircraft Owner City
Aircraft Owner State
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name CITY AVIATION
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address P.O. BOX 1043
Operator City NORTHAMPTON
Operator State MA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 01061
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 Unknown
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code OWD
Departure City NORWOOD
Departure State MA
Departure Country
Departure Time 2000
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code 7B2
Destination City NORTHAMPTON
Destination State MA
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Cruise
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Dec 12 2000 4:47PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length 0
Runway Width 0
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --