Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Ennis, Montana 59729
Thursday, May 26, 1983 23:30 MDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

DURING A NIGHT FLIGHT, OIL BEGAN SPREADING OVER THE WINDSHIELD & HEAVY SMOKE CAME IN THE COCKPIT THROUGH THE CABIN HEATER. THE PLT OPENED THE CABIN WINDOWS, REDUCED POWER & TURNED BACK TOWARD THE ARPT. THE OIL PRESSURE DROPPED TO 5 PSI & THE PLT DESCENDED TO LAND ON A ROAD WHICH COULD BE SEEN ON THE MOONLIT NIGHT. REPORTEDLY, THE ENGINE BEGAN TO 'RATTLE' AS THE ACFT NEARED THE GROUND. THE PLT LINED UP WITH THE ROAD, BUT LOST SIGHT OF IT MOMENTARILY DUE TO CLOUDS OBSCURING THE MOON. JUST BEFORE LANDING, HE SAW A GUY WIRE & MANEUVERED THE PLANE TO AVOID A COLLISION. THE ACFT STALLED & HIT A DITCH, THEN THE NOSE & LEFT MAIN GEAR SHEARED OFF. THE ACFT CONTINUED THRU BUSHES, HIT A FENCE & NOSED OVER. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT 2 OIL LINES HAD RUBBED TOGETHER UNTIL 1 HAD WORN THRU. THE OIL LINES SHOULD HAVE BEEN PROTECTED BY A RUBBER SPACER & A CLAMP. EITHER THE CLAMP HAD FAILED OR HAD NOT BEEN INSTALLED. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE RUBBER SPACER HAD MOVED & ALLOWED THE LINES TO RUB TOGETHER.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/26/1983
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 2330
Event Time Zone Mountain Daylight Time
Event City ENNIS
Event State MONTANA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 59729
Event Date Year 1983
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 Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1752 Mountain Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 26
Weather Observation Facility ID BZN
Elevation of weather observation facility 4458
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 32
Time Zone of the weather observation MDT
Lighting Conditions Night/Bright
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 10000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 15
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 13
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 6
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 150
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) 29
Density Altitude (feet) 5900
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 2
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1238
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 21534
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 9:15AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N9975D
NTSB Number DEN83LA121
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-22-150
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-22-150
Aircraft Serial Number 22-6766
Certified Max Gross Weight 1840
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 Jun 3 1982 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 50
Airframe Hours 1597
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name DELANE M. HALL
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 121
Aircraft Owner City AMERICAN FALLS
Aircraft Owner State ID
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 83211
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 BZN
Departure City BOZEMAN
Departure State MT
Departure Country
Departure Time 1030
Departure Time Zone MDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code VOI
Destination City AMERICAN FALLS
Destination State ID
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:36AM
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 --