Piper PA-22-150 N9975D

Summary

On 27 May 1983 at about 05:30 local time, a Piper PA-22-150 registered N9975D was involved in an accident near Ennis, Montana, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. No probable cause statement is available for this record.

Date

27 May 1983 at 05:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Ennis, Montana, United States

Coordinates

45.2800, -111.7093

Aircraft

Piper PA-22-150

Registration

N9975D

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Bozeman → American Falls

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Night/Bright

NTSB number

DEN83LA121

2 people had minor injuries.

The NTSB has not published a probable cause for this record. No probable cause statement is present in the source data.

Nothing about the cause is stated here that is not in the source record.

Read the full NTSB narrative

DURING A NIGHT FLIGHT, OIL BEGAN SPREADING OVER THE WINDSHIELD & HEAVY SMOKE CAME IN THE COCKPIT THROUGH THE CABIN HEATER. THE PLT OPENED THE CABIN WINDOWS, REDUCED POWER & TURNED BACK TOWARD THE ARPT. THE OIL PRESSURE DROPPED TO 5 PSI & THE PLT DESCENDED TO LAND ON A ROAD WHICH COULD BE SEEN ON THE MOONLIT NIGHT. REPORTEDLY, THE ENGINE BEGAN TO 'RATTLE' AS THE ACFT NEARED THE GROUND. THE PLT LINED UP WITH THE ROAD, BUT LOST SIGHT OF IT MOMENTARILY DUE TO CLOUDS OBSCURING THE MOON. JUST BEFORE LANDING, HE SAW A GUY WIRE & MANEUVERED THE PLANE TO AVOID A COLLISION. THE ACFT STALLED & HIT A DITCH, THEN THE NOSE & LEFT MAIN GEAR SHEARED OFF. THE ACFT CONTINUED THRU BUSHES, HIT A FENCE & NOSED OVER. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT 2 OIL LINES HAD RUBBED TOGETHER UNTIL 1 HAD WORN THRU. THE OIL LINES SHOULD HAVE BEEN PROTECTED BY A RUBBER SPACER & A CLAMP. EITHER THE CLAMP HAD FAILED OR HAD NOT BEEN INSTALLED. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE RUBBER SPACER HAD MOVED & ALLOWED THE LINES TO RUB TOGETHER.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.