Piper PA-28-161 N4319U

Summary

On 30 May 2000 at about 22:59 local time, a Piper PA-28-161 registered N4319U was involved in an accident near Williamstown, New Jersey, United States. 3 people were on board and 3 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

30 May 2000 at 22:59

Classification

Accident

Location

Williamstown, New Jersey, United States

Nearest airport

Camden County Airport (19N)

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

Piper PA-28-161

Registration

N4319U

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Berlin → Atlantic City

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

NYC00LA146

3 people had minor injuries.

improper installation of a quick drain plug by the airplane owner/mechanic which resulted in a loss of engine oil and forced landing.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

While cruising at 2,000 feet, the pilot noticed the oil pressure light first flicker, then come on steady. A few seconds later, the airplane started to vibrate. During an off airport landing in a field, the airplane struck a power line prior to impacting in an open field. Examination of the engine revealed the engine oil drain plug was missing from the oil sump, and there was no oil in the engine. The engine had accumulated 72 hours since a factory overhaul. Twenty hours after the engine was installed in the airplane, an oil change was performed. The mechanic, who performed the oil change, reported a quick drain was installed, but said he did not notice if it was safety wired, nor did he know who installed the quick drain. The airplane owner/mechanic who performed the engine installation declined to talk to the Safety Board investigator about the quick drain installation. Textron-Lycoming reported they overhauled the engine and delivered it with two standard drain plugs and no quick drains installed.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.