Piper PA-28-181 N8156E
3 April 1991 · Vero Beach, Florida, United States · No injuries
Summary
On 3 April 1991 at about 02:15 local time, a Piper PA-28-181 registered N8156E, operated by Sun Aviation, Inc., was involved in an accident near Vero Beach, Florida, United States. 4 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.
The record
- Date
- at 02:15
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Vero Beach, Florida, United States
- Coordinates
- 27.7208, -80.3895
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-181
- Registration
- N8156E
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Sun Aviation, Inc.
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- River Ranch → Vero Beach
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Night/Dark
- NTSB number
- MIA91LA115
People
Nobody was injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
Probable cause
FAILURE OF MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL TO FOLLOW DIRECTIONS OF A SERVICE BULLETIN DURING THE MAJOR OVERHAUL OF THE ENGINE. THIS RESULTED IN FAILURE TO DETECT A FOREIGN OBJECT UNDER THE CRANKSHAFT GEAR. AS A RESULT THE CRANKSHAFT GEAR BECAME LOOSE AND QUIT TURNING RESULTING IN THE TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
WHILE ON A SHORT CROSS COUNTRY FLT, THE ENG QUIT. THE PLT WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE ENG. DURING THE FORCED LANDING ON A ROAD, THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH A TREE THEN A GUARDRAIL. EXAM OF THE ENG REVEALED THAT THE CRANKSHAFT GEAR WHICH DRIVES TWO CRANKSHAFT IDLER GEARS WHICH IN TURN DRIVES EACH MAGNETO DRIVE GEAR FAILED TO DO SO WHEN THE BOLT WHICH SECURES IT TO THE CRANKSHAFT BACKED OUT ABOUT THREE TURNS. THIS WAS DUE TO A FOREIGN OBJECT LOCATED UNDER THE GEAR FOR AN UNDETERMINED TIME. THE LOOSE BOLT RESULTED IN THE TORQUE FROM THE CRANKSHAFT BEING TRANSMITTED TO THE CRANKSHAFT ALIGNMENT DOWEL, WHICH IS A NON-LOAD CARRYING MEMBER. THE ALIGNMENT DOWEL FAILED DUE TO FATIGUE RESULTING IN THE TOTAL LOSS OF ENG POWER. THE FOREIGN OBJECT WAS REPORTEDLY NOT LOCATED. REVIEW OF THE ENG LOGBOOKS REVEALED THAT THE ENG WAS OVERHAULED 1,574 HRS EARLIER.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Piper PA-28 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25 Apr 1991 | Piper PA-28-140 | Hibbing, Minnesota, United States | WM. & Audrey Svigel | Minor injuries | - |
| 22 Oct 1991 | Piper PA-28 | Berryville, Arkansas, United States | Snider, Richard D. | Minor injuries | - |
| 18 Nov 1991 | Piper PA-28-161 | Greeley, Colorado, United States | P.c. Flyers | No injuries | - |
| 14 Jul 1991 | Piper PA-28-180 | Old Bridge, New Jersey, United States | Martin Sade | No injuries | - |
| 27 Jan 1991 | Piper PA-28-140 | Titusville, Florida, United States | Achord, Marvin L. | Minor injuries | - |
| 21 Dec 1991 | Piper PA-28-140 | Yuma, Colorado, United States | Aero Training of the Rockies | No injuries | - |
All 9,402 records for this type
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 Jan 1991 | Hughes 269C | Deland, Florida, United States | Maverick Helicopters, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 9 Jan 1991 | Cessna 182N | La Belle, Florida, United States | Smith, Gregory H. | Serious injuries | - |
| 11 Jan 1991 | Cessna 175 | Okeechobee, Florida, United States | Davia, Samuel J. JR. | No injuries | - |
| 16 Jan 1991 | Cessna 172N | New Smyrna Bch, Florida, United States | Embry-Riddle Aero. Univ., Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 17 Jan 1991 | Cessna 152 | Miami, Florida, United States | Silver Express, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 19 Jan 1991 | Piper PA-31-350 | Orlando, Florida, United States | Top Flight Air Service, Inc. | No injuries | - |