Piper PA-28R-200 N43330

Summary

On 25 February 1989 at about 02:32 local time, a Piper PA-28R-200 registered N43330, operated by Eagle Flight Center, Inc., was involved in an accident near Inverness, Florida, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 were seriously injured. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

25 February 1989 at 02:32

Classification

Accident

Location

Inverness, Florida, United States

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

Piper PA-28R-200

Registration

N43330

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Eagle Flight Center, Inc.

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Crystal River → Daytona Beach

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Night/Dark

NTSB number

MIA89FA093

2 people were seriously injured.

THE FAILURE OF THE PROPELLER GOVERNOR OIL LINE DUE TO FATIGUE WHICH WAS CAUSED BY BENDING DAMAGE TO THE LINE AND THE FAILURE OF MECHANICS TO INSTALL SUPPORT CLAMPS ON THE LINE WHICH CAUSED THE FATIGUE TO PROPAGATE AT A FASTER RATE.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

DURING CRUISE FLT A TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER WAS EXPERIENCED. THE PLT WAS ATTEMPTING A FORCED LANDING WHEN THE ACFT CONTACTED ELECTRICAL WIRES AND A TREE PRIOR TO COLLIDING WITH THE TERRAIN. POST ACCIDENT INSPECTION REVEALED THE PROPELLER GOVERNOR OIL LINE CRACKED TO THE POINT THAT ENGINE OIL PUMPED OUT OF THE ENGINE WHICH SUBSEQUENTLY SEIZED. THE OIL LINE WAS INSTALLED AFTER ENGINE OVERHAUL WITHOUT TWO CLAMPS AND WAS BENT IN THE AREA WHERE THE ALTERNATOR BELT IS ADJUSTED. THE BENDING DAMAGE CAUSED A FATIGUE CRACK IN THE LINE AND THE LACK OF SUPPORT CLAMPS AIDED IN THE CRACKING PROCESS.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.