Piper PA-28R-201T N2008M

Summary

On 2 January 1993 at about 21:45 local time, a Piper PA-28R-201T registered N2008M, operated by Richard Talley/Larry Shattuck, was involved in an accident near Concord, California, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

2 January 1993 at 21:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Concord, California, United States

Coordinates

38.0000, -122.0303

Aircraft

Piper PA-28R-201T

Registration

N2008M

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Richard Talley/Larry Shattuck

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Navato → Upland

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX93LA088

1 person had minor injuries.

THE ENGINE MANUFACTURER FAILING TO PROPERLY INSTALL TAB WASHERS DURING OVERHAUL WHICH RESULTED IN ONE BOLT BECOMING LOOSE AND BEING INGESTED THROUGH VARIOUS ENGINE GEAR DRIVES. THE INGESTION AND LOOSE OIL PUMP COVER RESULTED IN THE ENGINE RUNNING ROUGH AND A BURNING SMELL WHICH CAUSED THE PILOT TO HAVE TO SHUT DOWN THE ENGINE.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

DURING AN IFR FLIGHT AT ABOUT 11,000 FEET MSL, THE AIRPLANE'S ENGINE BEGAN TO RUN ROUGH AND THE ENGINE OIL PRESSURE DROPPED TO ZERO. THE PILOT ALSO SAID HE SMELLED SOMETHING THAT WAS BURNING. THE PILOT ENTERED A DESCENT AND REQUESTED VECTORS TO THE NEAREST AIRPORT. WHILE ON THE VECTOR, THE ENGINE BEGAN TO RUN ROUGHER AND THE BURNING SMELL BECAME STRONGER. THE PILOT SHUT DOWN THE ENGINE AND ENTERED A POWER OFF FORCED LANDING. HE BROKE OUT OF THE CLOUDS AND DETERMINED THAT HE COULD NOT GLIDE TO THE AIRPORT. HE PERFORMED A LANDING TO THE ONLY AVAILABLE AREA. DURING TOUCHDOWN, THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH POSTS. AN FAA SAFETY INSPECTOR EXAMINED THE ENGINE. HE DETERMINED THAT 1 OF THE 4 BOLTS USED TO BOLT THE ENGINE OIL PUMP COVER TO THE CRANKCASE WAS MISSING. A DAMAGED BOLT WAS FOUND IN THE ENGINE'S CAMSHAFT GEAR. THE TAB WASHERS USED TO LOCK THE OIL PUMP COVER BOLTS HAD THEIR SINGLE TAB BENT DOWNWARD. THE TAB WASHERS' TWIN TABS ON THE 3 REMAINING BOLTS WERE POINTED STRAIGHT OUT. THEY APPEARED TO HAVE NEVER BEEN BENT INTO PLACE AFTER THE BOLTS WERE TIGHTENED. IMPROPER INSTALLATION OF THE WASHERS RESULTED IN ONE BOLT FALLING OFF AND BEING INGESTED THROUGH VARIOUS DRIVE GEARS. THE ENGINE WAS OVERHAULED BY THE MANUFACTURER 515 HOURS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.