Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Grantsville, Utah 84029
Friday, July 7, 2006 11:45 MDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

While in a descent from cruise flight the engine sustained a total loss of engine power, resulting in a forced landing to a shoreline consisting of soft sand. A post accident examination of the engine revealed connecting rods 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 were separated from the crankshaft. There was also evidence of connecting rod bearing heat stress and lack of lubrication, metal observed in the oil pan, and four penetrating holes in the bottom of the crankcase. Prior to preparing the engine for teardown only about one quart of oil was drained from the oil sump. The engine had accumulated a total of 1,956 hours since its most recent major overhaul; recommended time between overhauls is 2,000 hours. The pilot reported fuel and oil levels were normal for the flight and that no anomalies were noted, which would have precluded normal operation.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

A lack of lubrication for undetermined reasons, which resulted in the failure of the Nos. 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 connecting rods, a subsequent total loss of engine power during descent, which resulted in a forced landing. A factor in the accident was the soft sand.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/7/2006
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1145
Event Time Zone Mountain Daylight Time
Event City Grantsville
Event State UTAH
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 84029
Event Date Year 2006
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 404418N
Event Location Longitude 1222300W
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 --
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID --
Elevation of weather observation facility --
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation --
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 4500
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Few
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) 32
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 90
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 4
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.11
Density Altitude (feet) --
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 5
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 21022
NTSB Notification Source Regional Operations Center
NTSB Notification Date Jul 7 2006 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Feb 26 2007 11:14AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\lema
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Salt Lake City, Utah

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N56824
NTSB Number SEA06LA141
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
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-32-300
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 32-7440029
Certified Max Gross Weight 3400
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 Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Nov 1 2005 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 7200
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Jeremy J. Roberts
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Murray
Aircraft Owner State UT
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 84123
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 AEB
Departure City Bend
Departure State OR
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 730
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code SLC
Destination City Salt Lake City
Destination State UT
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Descent - emergency
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2006 4:57PM
User who most recently changed record STAM
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 --