Piper PA-32R N1942H
5 April 1999 · Fairbanks, Alaska, United States · Minor injuries
Summary
On 5 April 1999 at about 18:53 local time, a Piper PA-32R registered N1942H, operated by Bellair, Inc., was involved in an accident near Fairbanks, Alaska, 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.
The record
- Date
- at 18:53
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Fairbanks, Alaska, United States
- Nearest airport
- Fairbanks Int'l Airport (FAI)
- Coordinates
- 64.8995, -148.1608
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32R
- Registration
- N1942H
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Bellair, Inc.
- Operating rule
- Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
- Purpose of flight
- Unknown
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Unknown → Fort Yukon
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- ANC99LA043
People
1 person had minor injuries.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Probable cause
The loss of engine power due to the failure of maintenance personnel to properly torque a connecting rod bolt during an engine overhaul, and the subsequent disconnection of the connecting rod bolt and connecting rod.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
During initial climb, about 1,500 feet above ground level, as the pilot made his first power reduction, the engine quit. The pilot stated 'it quit so fast I knew I had a problem.' The pilot waited until he cleared trees to extend the landing gear, and landed the airplane on a road. The landing gear did not lock into the down position and collapsed. The right wing struck a snow berm. Inspection revealed that one of the bolts joining the number six connecting rod to the crankshaft had separated. The nut was found in the bottom of the crankcase. Inspection of the bolt and nut at the NTSB metallurgical laboratory did not reveal any preaccident damage to the threads on either the bolt or the nut. The torque on the other 11 connecting rod attachment nuts was checked to be 480 inch-pounds. The engine had been overhauled 241 hours prior to the accident.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Piper PA-32R accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19 Jul 1999 | Piper PA-32R-301T | Magdalena, New Mexico, United States | - | Fatal | 2 |
| 4 Apr 1999 | Piper PA-32R-301 | Warner Springs, California, United States | - | Fatal | 4 |
| 17 Jul 1999 | Piper PA-32R-301 | Vineyard Haven, Massachusetts, United States | - | Fatal | 3 |
| 21 Feb 1999 | Piper PA 32R-301 | Dulles, Virginia, United States | - | Fatal | - |
| 28 May 1999 | Piper PA-32R-300 | Valley Springs, California, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 8 Jul 1999 | Piper PA-32R | Fargo, North Dakota, United States | - | No injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 May 1999 | Piper PA-24-260 | Juneau, Alaska, United States | - | Fatal | 2 |
| 24 May 1999 | Stinson 108 | Anchorage, Alaska, United States | Glenn A. Ferris | Fatal | 1 |
| 29 May 1999 | De Havilland DHC 2 MK III | Anchorage, Alaska, United States | William A. Sego | No injuries | - |
| 13 Mar 1999 | Cessna 170B | Palmer, Alaska, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 30 May 1999 | Piper PA-18 | Port Alsworth, Alaska, United States | James T. Ables | No injuries | - |
| 14 Mar 1999 | Cessna 180G | Fairbanks, Alaska, United States | - | No injuries | - |