Individually Owned: 150,657
Corporate Owned: 137,281
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report
Guntersville, Alabama 35976
Thursday, October 21, 2004 15:03 CDT
NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident
During cruise flight the engine lost power, the pilot declared an emergency and decided to make a forced landing in a nearby field. While maneuvering for the emergency landing the airplane collided with a tree short of the intended landing area, fell to the ground, and burst into flames. Examination of the engine found no measurable quantity of oil remained in the sump, only residual oil remained, which was dark black in color. The crankcase was breached, and large holes in the crankcase were observed above the #2 and #6 cylinders. The internal components of the valve train were examined and widespread spalling of the tappet bodies was noted. Severe wear of the camshaft was also noted. Four of the nine cam lobes exhibited severe wear. The crankshaft main bearings exhibited dirt and particle embedment from metal particles contaminating the oil supply. According to a Service letter issued by Lycoming; Service Letter No. SL206A, dated May 5, 1985 which addresses the subject of field reconditioned tappet bodies, SL206A states that field reconditioned tappet bodies often leads to camshaft and tappet body problems in a very short time, thereby necessitating their removal and replacement. Severe wear or spalling of the cam lobes and tappet bodies can result in metal particles contaminating the oil supply.
NTSB Probable Cause Narrative
Total loss of engine power due to engine oil contamination, engine oil starvation, and multiple connecting rod bearing failures.
Event Information
| Type of Event | Accident |
| Event Date | 10/21/2004 |
| Event Day of the Week | Thursday |
| Time of Event | 1503 |
| Event Time Zone | Central Daylight Time |
| Event City | Guntersville |
| Event State | ALABAMA |
| Event Country | -- |
| Zipcode of the event site | 35976 |
| Event Date Year | 2004 |
| Event Date Month | 10 |
| MidAir Collision Indicator | No |
| On Ground Collision occurred ? | No |
| Event Location Latitude | 342400N |
| Event Location Longitude | 0861635W |
| 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 | 1 |
| Degrees magnetic from airport | -- |
| Airport Elevation | 613 |
| Weather Briefing Completeness | -- |
| Investigator's weather source | Weather Observation Facility |
| Time of the weather observation | 1553 Central Daylight Time |
| Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) | 180 |
| Weather Observation Facility ID | HSV |
| Elevation of weather observation facility | 629 |
| Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) | 28 |
| Time Zone of the weather observation | CDT |
| Lighting Conditions | Day |
| Lowest Ceiling Height | 2400 |
| Lowest Non-Ceiling Height | -- |
| Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions | Clear |
| Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling | Broken |
| Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) | -- |
| Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) | -- |
| Visibility (Statute Miles) | 8 |
| Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) | 24 |
| Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) | 19 |
| Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) | 310 |
| 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) | -- |
| Intensity of Precipitation | -- |
| METAR weather report | -- |
| Event Highest Injury | Serious |
| On Ground, Fatal Injuries | -- |
| On Ground, Minor Injuries | -- |
| On Ground, Serious Injuries | -- |
| Injury Total Fatal | -- |
| Injury Total Minor | -- |
| Injury Total None | -- |
| Injury Total Serious | 1 |
| Injury Total All | 1 |
| Investigating Agency | NTSB |
| NTSB Docket Number (internal use) | 21388 |
| NTSB Notification Source | FAA Com Center |
| NTSB Notification Date | Oct 21 2004 12:00AM |
| NTSB Notification Time | 1530 |
| Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information | DMS |
| Date of most recent change to record | Apr 25 2007 2:54PM |
| User who most recently changed record | NTSB\lema |
| Basic weather conditions | Visual Meteorological Cond |
| FAA District Office | Birmingham FSDO |
Aircraft Involved |
|
|---|---|
Aircraft #1 |
|
| Aircraft Registration Number | N19TL |
| NTSB Number | ATL05LA007 |
| Missing Aircraft Indicator | -- |
| Federal Aviation Reg. Part | Part 91: General Aviation |
| Type of Flight Plan filed | IFR |
| Flight plan Was Activated? | Yes |
| Damage | Substantial |
| Aircraft Fire | Ground |
| Aircraft Explosion | None |
| Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name | Piper |
| Aircraft Model | PA-32RT-300T |
| Aircraft Series Identifier | -- |
| Aircraft Serial Number | 32R-7887035 |
| Certified Max Gross Weight | 3600 |
| Aircraft Category | Airplane |
| Aircraft Registration Class | -- |
| Aircraft is a homebuilt? | No |
| Flight Crew Seats | -- |
| Cabin Crew Seats | -- |
| Passenger Seats | -- |
| Total number of seats on the aircraft | 6 |
| Number of Engines | 1 |
| Fixed gear or retractable gear | Retractable |
| Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection | Annual |
| Date of Last Inspection | Aug 1 2004 12:00AM |
| Airframe hours since last inspection | 20 |
| Airframe Hours | 3461.24 |
| ELT Installed | Yes |
| ELT Activated | No |
| ELT Aided Location of Event Site | No |
| ELT Type | -- |
| Aircraft Owner Name | BLW LLC |
| Aircraft Owner Street Address | 762 Upper Station Camp Road |
| Aircraft Owner City | Gallatin |
| Aircraft Owner State | TN |
| Aircraft Owner Country | USA |
| Aircraft Owner Zipcode | 37066 |
| Operator is an individual? | No |
| Operator Name | Robert Thomas Webb |
| Operator Same as Owner? | No |
| Operator Is Doing Business As | -- |
| Operator Address Same as Owner? | No |
| Operator Street Address | 101 Summit Lane |
| Operator City | Hendersonville |
| Operator State | TN |
| Operator Country | USA |
| Operator Zip code | 37075 |
| 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 | M33 |
| Departure City | Gallatin |
| Departure State | TN |
| Departure Country | USA |
| Departure Time | 1345 |
| Departure Time Zone | CDT |
| Destination Same as Local Flt | -- |
| Destination Airport Code | DTS |
| Destination City | Destin |
| Destination State | FL |
| Destination Country | USA |
| Specific Phase of Flight | Cruise - normal |
| Report sent to ICAO? | No |
| Evacuation occurred | No |
| Date of most recent change to record | Feb 8 2007 2:09PM |
| User who most recently changed record | KENJ |
| Since inspection or accident | Last Inspection |
| Event Location Runway Number and Location | NA |
| Runway Length | -- |
| Runway Width | -- |
| Sight Seeing flight | No |
| Air Medical Flight | No |
| Medical Flight | -- |