Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Hamilton, Alabama 35447
Thursday, June 5, 2003 16:45 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

According to the pilot, about 45 minutes into the flight, while flying at an altitude of 3000 feet, the engine lost power. Efforts by the pilot to restore full engine power were unsuccessful. The pilot selected a nearby pasture for an emergency landing. The airplane collided with trees as the pilot maneuvered for the emergency landing. Examination of the engine revealed, the # 2 cylinder rod cap was broken, an no oil was found in the engine and the oil sump was dry. Review of the Cherokee 140 owner's handbook, section VI, Oil Requirements, states: The capacity of the O-320 series engine is 8 quarts, and the minimum safe quantity is 2 quarts. Section III, Preflight; states: 5c, (Check for obvious fuel or oil leaks.) 5d, (Check oil level, 8 quarts maximum.) The pilot did not report finding any problems with the airplane during his preflight.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's inadequate preflight inspection by his failure to ensure adequate oil supply, which resulted in oil exhaustion and the failure of the connecting rod cap.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/5/2003
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1645
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City Hamilton
Event State ALABAMA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 35447
Event Date Year 2003
Event Date Month 6
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? Yes
Event Location Latitude 332320N
Event Location Longitude 0880002W
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 --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Partial - limited by pilot
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1653 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 90
Weather Observation Facility ID MSL
Elevation of weather observation facility 550
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 3
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 25
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 12
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 100
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 6
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 1792
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 17086
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date Jun 5 2003 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2035
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Jan 27 2005 3:52PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\JOHB
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Birmingham FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N44541
NTSB Number ATL03LA103
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Piper
Aircraft Model PA-28-140
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 28-7425424
Certified Max Gross Weight 2400
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 Apr 1 2003 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 220
Airframe Hours 2200
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Pigeon Holdings LLC
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. Box 2805
Aircraft Owner City Jasper
Aircraft Owner State AL
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 35502
Operator is an individual? No
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? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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 3M8
Departure City REFORM
Departure State AL
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1530
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code MSL
Destination City Muscle Shoals
Destination State AL
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Cruise
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Apr 29 2004 9:29AM
User who most recently changed record POWP
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location NA
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --