Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Chester, Illinois 62233
Friday, November 3, 2006 7:20 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot reported that after reaching a cruising altitude of 9,000 feet the engine "missed" and the oil pressure, oil temperature, and manifold pressure began to drop. The pilot attempted to fly to the nearest airport maintaining a 500 to 800 foot per minute descent. Unable to make it to the airport, he chose a field in which to land. He stated he cleared the trees, which surrounded the field, and applied flaps to slow the airplane. The field was muddy so the pilot used the emergency gear extension to lower the landing gear so the airplane would not slide into the trees. The airplane touched down and slid approximately 25 feet prior to coming to rest. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing and fuselage. An engine teardown revealed holes in the crankcase near the number four cylinder and that the engine had sustained both thermal and mechanical damage as a result of oil starvation. A hole was noted in the turbine wheel shroud on the hot section of the right turbocharger. There was no data plate, serial number, or model number present on the turbocharger. The turbocharger contained the part number 466304-0003. The oil inlet and outlet fittings were intact and showed no signs of oil leakage. This turbocharger was torn down and inspected. The inspection revealed the turbine wheel shroud had fragmented as a result of a fatigue failure. The back surface of the shaft and wheel assembly contained contact signatures from the shroud. A review of maintenance records showed that both the left and right turbochargers were installed on June 21, 1988. The data plate on the left turbocharger matched the information in the maintenance records. Without a serial number on the right turbocharger, it could not be verified that this was the same one that was installed on June 21, 1998. However, the maintenance logs provided did not contain a record of the turbocharger having been replaced after that date.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The fatigue failure of the turbocharger shroud which resulted in oil starvation to the engine. A factor was the muddy field.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 11/3/2006
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 720
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City Chester
Event State ILLINOIS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 62233
Event Date Year 2006
Event Date Month 11
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 375512N
Event Location Longitude 0894405W
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 Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 745 Central Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 20
Weather Observation Facility ID SAR
Elevation of weather observation facility 538
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 18
Time Zone of the weather observation CST
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) 0
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -3
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.51
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 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 23044
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date Nov 3 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 28 2008 3:59PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\johb
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Sptingfield, IL FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N460TM
NTSB Number CHI07LA018
Missing Aircraft Indicator Y
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? Yes
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Piper
Aircraft Model PA-46-310P
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 46-8408021
Certified Max Gross Weight 4100
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 Apr 1 2006 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 74
Airframe Hours 2831
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name RKA Investments, LLC
Aircraft Owner Street Address 3511 Silverside Road Ste 105
Aircraft Owner City Wilmington
Aircraft Owner State DE
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 19810
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Robert W. Rollins
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Cape Girardeau
Operator State MO
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 63701
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) Business
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code CGI
Departure City Cape Girardeau
Departure State MO
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 645
Departure Time Zone CST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code DPA
Destination City West Chicago
Destination State IL
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Cruise
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Feb 5 2008 2:31PM
User who most recently changed record SULP
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 --