Piper PA-28R-180 N2330T

Summary

On 20 August 2004 at about 21:30 local time, a Piper PA-28R-180 registered N2330T was involved in an accident near London, Kentucky, 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

20 August 2004 at 21:30

Classification

Accident

Location

London, Kentucky, United States

Nearest airport

London-Corbin Airport (LOZ)

Coordinates

37.0869, -84.0772

Aircraft

Piper PA-28R-180

Registration

N2330T

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

London → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

NTSB number

IAD04LA041

Nobody was injured.

An undocumented, improper repair attempt, which subsequently resulted in fatigue cracking to the rib cap.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

While the pilot was practicing takeoffs and landings in the recently-purchased airplane, he performed one landing that was "a pretty good jolt," but "not extraordinary." Following the flight, the pilot noticed damage to the left wing's upper skin. Further examination revealed that a portion of the left wing rib cap was fractured, and that there were two sets of double-drilled, overlapping rivet holes that matched up with holes partially drilled into a false spar. The false spar was covered with a green (preservative) paint, while the partially-drilled holes were not. The rib cap fracture surface exhibited fatigue cracking that did not extend into the overlapping rivet holes. A review of the airplane's maintenance logs revealed no evidence of repair to the affected area. The airplane, which was manufactured in 1971, had 5,529 hours of operating time.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.