Piper PA-28RT-201T N8252S

Summary

On 18 September 1998 at about 20:00 local time, a Piper PA-28RT-201T registered N8252S, operated by Wings of Denver Flying Club, was involved in an accident near Duck Creek, Utah, United States. One person was 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

18 September 1998 at 20:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Duck Creek, Utah, United States

Coordinates

37.4009, -112.6291

Aircraft

Piper PA-28RT-201T

Registration

N8252S

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Wings of Denver Flying Club

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Moab → Las Vegas

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

FTW98LA404

Nobody was injured.

Loose intake valve rocker arm studs that allowed a loss of compression and a loss of oil. A factor was unsuitable terrain on which to make a forced landing and poles next to a cattle guard.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The airplane was in cruise flight at 12,500 feet when the pilot noticed the manifold pressure had dropped from 51.8 inches to 25 inches. 'The engine had poor response to throttle movement, and the engine sounded bad when I moved the throttle.' He made the decision not to proceed further due to the remote terrain. As he checked his maps for the nearest airport, the airplane lost altitude. 'The engine did not seem to have much power, and I was about 3,000 feet AGL by this time.' The pilot made a forced landing on a dirt road. During rollout the aircraft struck poles alongside of a cattle guard. According to the salvage company and the FAA inspector who examined the engine, two of the four screws securing the rocker cover on the number 3 cylinder were missing, and oil was leaking out. The rocker cover had a round indention on the outside, and a wear mark on the inside. The exhaust rocker arm studs were also loose. The rear stud was only finger tight. Aluminum was found imbedded in its threads. The front stud was loose, but its nut locking mechanism was still in place.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.