Piper PA-23-160 N4231P

Summary

On 16 August 1990 at about 19:42 local time, a Piper PA-23-160 registered N4231P was involved in an accident near Odell, Illinois, United States. 3 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

16 August 1990 at 19:42

Classification

Accident

Location

Odell, Illinois, United States

Coordinates

40.9999, -88.5206

Aircraft

Piper PA-23-160

Registration

N4231P

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Bloomington → Chicago

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CHI90FA233

Nobody was injured.

A LOSS OF LEFT ENGINE POWER DUE TO OIL ACCUMULATION IN THE RIGHT MAGNETO AND A NON-USABLE SPARK LEAD FROM THE LEFT MAGNETO. IN ADDITION, THE RIGHT ENGINE WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE POWER TO MAINTAIN ALTITUDE DUE TO A PARTIAL BLOCKAGE IN THE CARBURETOR BY A SECTION OF AIR INTAKE DUCT WHICH CAUSED THE ENGINE TO RUN RICH.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

DURING FLIGHT THE LEFT ENGINE BEGAN RUNNING ROUGH AND VIBRATING SEVERELY, AND IT WAS SHUT DOWN. THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN ALTITUDE ON THE RIGHT ENGINE AND A FORCED LANDING WAS MADE IN AN ALFALFA FIELD. EXAMINATION REVEALED THAT THE LEFT ENGINES RIGHT MAGNETO HAD AN ACCUMULATION OF OIL INSIDE ITS CASE. IN ADDITION, THE SPARK PLUG LEAD FROM THE LEFT MAGNETO FOR THE #1 CYLINDER WAS INTERNALLY DAMAGED. EXAMINATION OF THE RIGHT ENGINE REVEALED THAT THE INTAKE DUCT BETWEEN THE AIR FILTER AND THE CARBURETOR WAS DETERIORATED FROM EXPOSURE TO HOT EXHAUST PIPES. A 3' X 1/2' PIECE OF THE DUCT HAD SEPARATED AND WAS FOUND CAUGHT ON THE CARBURETOR VENTURI.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.