Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Santo Domingo Pueblo, New Mexico 87052
Sunday, December 28, 2008 8:30 MST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

Following a three-hour preheat, utilizing a Tanis heater, the flight departed and entered a cruise condition at 10,500 feet. While in cruise flight, the pilot noted a loss of oil pressure and reversed course to head back to the airport. While en route to the airport the engine began to run rough and eventually stopped running. During the forced landing, the right wing impacted a fence post resulting in substantial damage. Examination of the engine revealed a large hole just above the number two cylinder orifice, in addition to mechanical damage throughout the engine. The number one and two connecting rods, bearings, and journals all exhibited extensive mechanical and lubrication damage consistent with oil starvation. An examination of the remaining engine components revealed no anomalies. The reason for the loss of oil pressure and oil starvation in the engine was not determined.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

A loss of engine power due a loss of oil pressure resulting in heat distress and mechanical failure of the engine. The reason for the loss of oil pressure was not determined.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 12/28/2008
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 830
Event Time Zone Mountain Standard Time
Event City Santo Domingo Pueblo
Event State NEW MEXICO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 87052
Event Date Year 2008
Event Date Month 12
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 353017N
Event Location Longitude 1062135W
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 853 Central Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID KSAF
Elevation of weather observation facility 6348
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
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) -8
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -16
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator --
Wind Speed (knots) --
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator --
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.32
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report METAR KSAF 281453Z 34013KT 10SM CLR M11/M17 A3029
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 4
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 26559
NTSB Notification Source Regional Operations Center, FT
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Mar 9 2010 1:26PM
User who most recently changed record johb
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N3064M
NTSB Number CEN09LA105
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-28R-201
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 28R-7803162
Certified Max Gross Weight --
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 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Dec 1 2007 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 2158
ELT Installed Unknown
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Allan W. Wood
Aircraft Owner Street Address PO BOX 995
Aircraft Owner City Santa Fe
Aircraft Owner State NM
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 87504
Operator is an individual? Yes
Operator Name Allan W. Wood
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address PO BOX 995
Operator City Santa Fe
Operator State NM
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 87504
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
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 KSAF
Departure City Sante Fe
Departure State NM
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 815
Departure Time Zone MST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code KSDL
Destination City Scottsdale
Destination State AZ
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Feb 1 2010 4:25PM
User who most recently changed record gamw
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location N/A
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --