Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Flippin, Arkansas 72687
Friday, July 1, 2011 11:00 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

While in cruise flight the pilot noted a decrease in engine rpm. He began to troubleshoot the problem and reversed course to head toward more favorable terrain for a forced landing. After completing the turn, the engine seized, and the pilot performed a forced landing to a pasture. During the landing roll, the right wing impacted a bale of hay, resulting in substantial damage. An examination of the engine revealed that the loss of engine power and resultant seizure was due to a loss of engine oil. Further examination revealed that the bolts on the vacuum pump were loose and the engine oil was exiting at that location. An examination of the airframe and remaining systems revealed no anomalies.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The loss of engine power due to improper maintenance and resultant oil starvation.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/1/2011
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1100
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City Flippin
Event State ARKANSAS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 72687
Event Date Year 2011
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude --
Event Location Longitude --
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 1053 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 360
Weather Observation Facility ID KBPK
Elevation of weather observation facility 928
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 20
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) 30
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 22
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 200
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) 30.04
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report 2011-07-01 13:53 METAR KBPK 011853Z AUTO 19005KT 1
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) 29042
NTSB Notification Source FAA ASW ROC
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Jul 14 2011 4:11PM
User who most recently changed record kaij
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N56417
NTSB Number CEN11LA441
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-28-180
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 287305589
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 Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jun 3 2011 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 2415
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name MID-SOUTH SPECIALTY CONSTRUCTION LLC
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City SAINT JOE
Aircraft Owner State AR
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 72675-1297
Operator is an individual? Yes
Operator Name Richard Hartley
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City SAINT JOE
Operator State AR
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 72675-1297
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 KBPK
Departure City Mountain Home
Departure State AR
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1045
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code K4A5
Destination City Marshall
Destination State AR
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jul 14 2011 1:04PM
User who most recently changed record kaij
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 --