Piper PA-31-350 N698VW

Summary

On 6 November 2002 at about 19:00 local time, a Piper PA-31-350 registered N698VW was involved in an accident near Kerrville, Texas, 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

6 November 2002 at 19:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Kerrville, Texas, United States

Nearest airport

Kerrville/Schreiner (ERV)

Coordinates

29.9767, -99.0856

Aircraft

Piper PA-31-350

Registration

N698VW

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Kerrville → Kerrville

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

FTW03LA046

Nobody was injured.

The propeller shaft seal leak resulting in an in-flight fire.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

During cruise flight at 6,500 feet msl, the pilot heard a "muffled bang on the right engine." The pilot performed the emergency procedures, shut down the right engine, feathered the propeller, and landed the airplane without further incident. The outboard portion of the right flap, the right gear door, and the right wing locker were destroyed by the in-flight fire. There was thermal deformation of the aft right wing spar. During an examination of the airplane, oil was found from the right engine propeller aft to the right vertical stabilizer. The oil filter was replaced and 8 quarts of oil were added to the engine for an test run. During the 10-minute test run, oil was observed leaking from the forward area of the engine. Following the test run, examination revealed the oil was leaking from the propeller shaft seal.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.