Piper PA-22-108 N5611Z

Summary

On 14 March 1988 at about 22:00 local time, a Piper PA-22-108 registered N5611Z was involved in an accident near Dorado. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

14 March 1988 at 22:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Dorado

Nearest airport

Dorado (PR02)

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

Piper PA-22-108

Registration

N5611Z

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Arecibo → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

MIA88LA126

Nobody was injured.

WHILE ON A PERSONAL FLT IN NORMAL CRUISE AT AN ALT OF 1000 FT APRX 2 MILES SOUTHEAST OF THE ARPT, THE ENG BEGAN TO MISFIRE AND THE CABIN FILLED WITH SMOKE. THE PLT ELECTED TO LAND IN A CLEARING. THE PLT ALSO STATED THAT THE ENG WAS LOSING PWR AND THT A/C COULD NOT MAINTAIN ALT. DURING TH ELNDG ROLL THE NOSE GEAR BROKE OFF AFTER HITTING A SMALL RISE IN TERRAIN. THE A/C NOSED OVER & CAME TO REST. POST-CRASH INSP REVEALED THAT THE MUFFLER HAD SEVERAL PIN SIZE RUST HOLES WHICH PERMITTED THE EXHAUST TO BURN THROUGH THE SHROUD AND MELT THE LT MAGNETO WIRING HARNESS INSULATION, VOLTAGE REGULATOR WIRING AND BATTERY WIRES FROM THE GENERATOR. AFTER REPLACING THE MAGNETO WIRING HARNESS AN ENG RUNUP WAS ACCOMPLISHED WITH NO PROBLEMS NOTED. THE MUFFLER SHROUD WAS MADE OF ALUMINUM RATHER THAN STAINLESS STEEL.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

WHILE ON A PERSONAL FLT IN NORMAL CRUISE AT AN ALT OF 1000 FT APRX 2 MILES SOUTHEAST OF THE ARPT, THE ENG BEGAN TO MISFIRE AND THE CABIN FILLED WITH SMOKE. THE PLT ELECTED TO LAND IN A CLEARING. THE PLT ALSO STATED THAT THE ENG WAS LOSING PWR AND THAT A/C COULD NOT MAINTAIN ALT. DURING THE LNDG ROLL THE NOSE GEAR BROKE OFF AFTER HITTING A SMALL RISE IN TERRAIN. THE A/C NOSED OVER & CAME TO REST. POST-CRASH INSP REVEALED THAT THE MUFFLER HAD SEVERAL PIN SIZE RUST HOLES WHICH PERMITTED THE EXHAUST TO BURN THROUGH THE SHROUD AND MELT THE LT MAGNETO WIRING HARNESS INSULATION, VOLTAGE REGULATOR WIRING AND BATTERY WIRES FROM THE GENERATOR. AFTER REPLACING THE MAGNETO WIRING HARNESS AN ENG RUNUP WAS ACCOMPLISHED WITH NO PROBLEMS NOTED. THE MUFFLER SHROUD WAS MADE OF ALUMINUM RATHER THAN STAINLESS STEEL.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.