Plane Crash List

Piper PA-28R-200 N57010

18 January 1997 · Thorndale, Pennsylvania, United States · No injuries

Summary

On 18 January 1997 at about 16:45 local time, a Piper PA-28R-200 registered N57010 was involved in an accident near Thorndale, Pennsylvania, United States. 2 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 16:45
Classification
Accident
Location
Thorndale, Pennsylvania, United States
Coordinates
40.0000, -75.7606
Aircraft
Piper PA-28R-200
Registration
N57010
Category
Airplane
Engines
1
Operator
Not recorded
Operating rule
Part 91: General Aviation
Purpose of flight
Instructional
Phase of flight
Not recorded
Route
Coatesville → Unknown
Aircraft damage
Substantial
Weather
VMC
Light
Day
NTSB number
NYC97LA046

People

Nobody was injured.

On board Died Serious Minor Uninjured
2 0 0 0 2

Probable cause

Inadequate overhaul of the crankshaft that failed to detect fatigue cracks, which resulted in a total loss of engine power when the crankshaft separated in two.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that during cruise flight the engine started to run rough followed by a total loss of engine power. The pilot performed a forced landing during which the airplane collided with a utility pole. Examination of the engine revealed that the crankshaft was separated in two with an additional crack. Review of the maintenance records revealed that the crankshaft was overhauled by Engine Components, Inc., San Antonio, Texas. During the first magnetic particle inspection, the crankshaft was considered for rejection due to heat cracks in the area of the number 3 main journal. The main and rod journals were then ground and renitrided. The crankshaft then had two additional magnetic particle inspections and was returned to service. Examination of the crankshaft revealed that preexisting fatigue cracks propagated at least 75 percent of the crank cheek wall. The accident occurred about 9 flight hours after the crankshaft inspections which were conducted in December, 1996.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.

Other Piper PA-28R accidents

Date Aircraft Location Operator Outcome Died
27 Jul 1997 Piper PA-28R-200
N5027T
Auburn, Indiana, United States - No injuries -
11 May 1997 Piper PA-28R-200
N56639
Pottstown, Pennsylvania, United States Fare Share Ltd Fatal -
15 Mar 1997 Piper PA-28R-200
N6219J
Westminster, Texas, United States
no coordinates
Monarch Air Fatal 2
6 Jan 1997 Piper PA-28R
N3347Q
Fort Smith, Montana, United States Jeffrey M. Pfau Fatal 2
3 Jul 1997 Piper PA-28R-180
N3896T
Penobscot, Maine, United States
no coordinates
BOB Hart Fatal 4
10 May 1997 Piper PA-28R-200
N55676
Tigard, Oregon, United States - Fatal 2

All 1,342 records for this type

Other accidents in this area

Date Aircraft Location Operator Outcome Died
24 Jan 1997 Cessna 650
N777LF
Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, United States - No injuries -
2 Feb 1997 Berry VANS RV-4
N42BN
York, Pennsylvania, United States - No injuries -
5 Mar 1997 Aerospatiale AS-355F
N101UC
Washington, Pennsylvania, United States
no coordinates
Corporate Jets, Inc. Minor injuries -
30 Mar 1997 Lowe SUPER KOALA
N4424V
Perry Township, Pennsylvania, United States - Fatal 2
15 Apr 1997 Piper PA-28-161
N21123
Butler, Pennsylvania, United States - No injuries -
22 Apr 1997 Cessna 150
N6717F
Lehighton, Pennsylvania, United States - Minor injuries -

All 170,864 records in United States