Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Darien, Georgia 31305
Saturday, March 21, 1987 12:15 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

DURING NORMAL CRUISE FLIGHT AT 6,000' THE PLT REPORTED HEARING A LOUD BANG SIMULTANEOUS WITH A TOTAL LOSS OF POWER. THE PLT DECLARED MAYDAY AND MADE A FORCED LANDING IN SMALL PINE TREES. EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED CYL.#2 CONNECTING ROD HAD BECOME DISCONNECTED FROM THE CRANK SHAFT AND SUBSEQUENTLY PUNCTURED THE CRANKCASE. EXAMINATION OF THE CONNECTING ROD BOLTS INDICATED ONE BOLT FAILED DUE TO TENSILE OVERSTRESS. THE BOLTS HAD BEEN REPLACED AT OVERHAUL, 1,460 HOURS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/21/1987
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1215
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City DARIEN
Event State GEORGIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 31305
Event Date Year 1987
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 0
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Witness
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 Dawn
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) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 21
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -18
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 290
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 10
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
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 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 479
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Mar 21 1987 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1600
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 33607
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 N2948R
NTSB Number ATL87LA089
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-28R-200
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-28R-200
Aircraft Serial Number 28R35342
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 Feb 19 1987 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 20
Airframe Hours 4157
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name MICHEAL R. KATZ
Aircraft Owner Street Address 250 N BANNANA RIVER DRIVE
Aircraft Owner City MERRITT ISLAND
Aircraft Owner State FL
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 32952
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name MICHAEL ROBERT KATZ
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 250 N. BANNANA RIVER DR.
Operator City MERRITT ISLAND
Operator State FL
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 32952
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 CHS
Departure City CHARLESTON
Departure State SC
Departure Country
Departure Time 1105
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code COI
Destination City MERRITT ISLAND
Destination State FL
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 0
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --