Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Fraconia, Pennsylvania 17752
Friday, May 25, 1990 15:20 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE ENGINE LOST POWER APPROX 5 MIN AFTER T.O. THE PILOT REPORTED HE EXECUTED A FORCED LANDING AND LANDED HARD. POST CRASH EXAMINATION SHOWED NO OIL IN THE ENGINE CASE AND THE CAUSE OF THE ENGINE FAILURE WAS ATTRIBUTED TO OIL EXHAUSTION. ONE ENGINE OIL COOLER LINE WAS FOUND TO BE OOZING OIL, HOWEVER, NO OIL LINE FRACTURES WERE REPORTED. THE PILOT WAS REPORTED TO HAVE IMMEDIATELY OPENED UP THE ENGINE COWLING AND EXAMINED THE ENGINE AFTER THE ACCIDENT. THE FAA REPORTED THE OIL DIP STICK IN PLACE, HOWEVER, THE PAINT ABOVE IT WAS CHIPPED AND THE METAL SHINY. IN ADDITION, THEY REPORTED A 'V' PATTERN OF OIL SPRAYED ON THE ENGINE COWLING ABOVE THE OIL DIP STICK, WHICH RAN TO THE BACK OF THE ENGINE.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT FAILED TO MAINTAIN SUFFICIENT AIRSPEED TO FLARE FOR LANDING. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: A POWER LOSS DUE TO OIL EXHAUSTION, THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO CONDUCT AN ADEQUATE PRE-FLIGHT AND DEPARTING WITH THE OIL DIP STICK LOOSE.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/25/1990
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1520
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City FRACONIA
Event State PENNSYLVANIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 17752
Event Date Year 1990
Event Date Month 5
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 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 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) 7
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 18
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 10
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 315
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 5
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
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 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1369
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date May 25 1990 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1939
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 42680
Date of most recent change to record Dec 12 2000 4:59PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N8120C
NTSB Number NYC90LA111
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-28-161
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-28-161
Aircraft Serial Number 8016135
Certified Max Gross Weight 2300
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 Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jul 25 1989 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 80
Airframe Hours 1400
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name REMO DILELLO
Aircraft Owner Street Address GLENSIDE AVE & NEW STREET
Aircraft Owner City GLENSIDE
Aircraft Owner State PA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 19038
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name PAUL ZARROLI, JR.
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 304 BYBERRY RD.
Operator City HATBORO
Operator State PA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 19040
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 UKT
Departure City QUAKERTOWN
Departure State PA
Departure Country
Departure Time 1515
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code N67
Destination City BLUE BELL
Destination State PA
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 --