Piper PA-32R-300 N8304C

Summary

On 1 September 2000 at about 16:10 local time, a Piper PA-32R-300 registered N8304C was involved in an accident near Mason City, Iowa, 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

1 September 2000 at 16:10

Classification

Accident

Location

Mason City, Iowa, United States

Coordinates

43.1502, -93.1901

Aircraft

Piper PA-32R-300

Registration

N8304C

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter

Purpose of flight

Unknown

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Algona → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CHI00LA286

Nobody was injured.

the unsuitable terrain for landing encountered by the pilot and the failure of the oil filter converter plate gasket. Factors to the accident were the total loss of oil and the soft terrain condition.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

During cruise flight the engine oil pressure dropped to zero and the engine began to vibrate. The pilot elected to shut-down the engine and perform a forced landing to a near by soy bean field. During the landing the left main and nose gear collapsed when they came into contact with the soft terrain. Post-accident investigation revealed that the oil filter base-gasket had become extruded from its seat, allowing engine oil to leak out of the engine. Textron Lycoming Engines, Williamsport, Pennsylvania, issued a Mandatory Service Bulletin, number 543A, the day prior to the accident. The service bulletin stated, "Textron Lycoming has received reports indicating that operation at high oil temperatures can cause the converter plate gasket on the oil filter base to become extruded from its seat, allowing oil to leak out between the plate and the accessory housing." The service bulletin called for the removal and replacement of the converter plate gasket at every 50-hour oil change.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.