Piper PA-28R-180 N4667J

Summary

On 31 July 1997 at about 15:14 local time, a Piper PA-28R-180 registered N4667J was involved in an accident near Buckeye, Arizona, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 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

31 July 1997 at 15:14

Classification

Accident

Location

Buckeye, Arizona, United States

Nearest airport

Buckeye Muni (BXK)

Coordinates

33.3804, -112.5508

Aircraft

Piper PA-28R-180

Registration

N4667J

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Unknown → Prescott

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX97LA266

2 people had minor injuries.

The total oil exhaustion of the engine due to the inadequate maintenance installation of the oil cooler lines by the owner/mechanic.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The owner of the airplane, who is a certified A & P mechanic, had complied with an AD which required the replacement of the oil cooler hose. He ran the engine up to idle but did not remove the engine cowling to check for signs of an oil leak. The airport manager stated he noticed a large oil puddle at the site where the airplane was started and a trail of oil leading out to the runway. The airplane climbed about 250 feet when the engine quit and a forced landing was made. The engine teardown revealed no oil in the engine, with heat distress noted to the bearings and journals, and the number 2 connecting rod separated from the crankshaft. One oil cooler line was loose and required an 180-degree turn to tighten the nut.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.