Piper PA-24-260 N9097P

Summary

On 16 October 1987 at about 23:03 local time, a Piper PA-24-260 registered N9097P, operated by Graham, George R., was involved in an accident near San Mateo, California, United States. 2 people were on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. No probable cause statement is available for this record.

Date

16 October 1987 at 23:03

Classification

Accident

Location

San Mateo, California, United States

Coordinates

37.4493, -122.1003

Aircraft

Piper PA-24-260

Registration

N9097P

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Graham, George R.

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Palo Alto → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX88LA017

1 person 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

WHILE OVER THE OCEAN, THE PILOT NOTED THAT THE ENGINE DID NOT SOUND RIGHT AND THAT THE OIL PRESSURE INDICATION HAD DROPPED TO ZERO. SHORTLY AFTERWARD, THE ENGINE BEGAN TO VIBRATE VIOLENTLY AND SEIZED. THE PILOT PLANNED FOR A FORCED LANDING TO AN OPEN FIELD BECAUSE OF TRAFFIC ON HIGHWAYS. THE PILOT ELECTED TO MAKE AN INTENTIONAL WHEELS-UP LANDING ON UPSLOPING TERRAIN, RESULTING IN A HARD LANDING. EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE DISCLOSED ABOUT 2 HANDFULS OF METAL FLAKES IN THE OIL SUMP WITH THE OIL PUMP PICKUP SCREEN CLOGGED BY METAL FLAKES. THERE WERE NO METAL FLAKES IN THE ENGINE OIL FILTER. THE NO 6 CONNECTING ROD HAD FAILED AND PENETRATED THE ENGINE CASE. THE EVIDENCE INDICATED THAT THE ENGINE FAILURE WAS INITIATED BY THE FAILURE OF A CONNECTING ROD BEARING. THE ENGINE HAD BEEN OPERATED 23 HOURS SINCE THE MOST RECENT ANNUAL INSPECTION.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.