Piper PA-24-180 N6858P

Summary

On 26 November 2005 at about 16:53 local time, a Piper PA-24-180 registered N6858P was involved in an accident near Lincoln Park, New Jersey, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 were seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

26 November 2005 at 16:53

Classification

Accident

Location

Lincoln Park, New Jersey, United States

Nearest airport

Lincoln Park Airport (N07)

Coordinates

40.9475, -74.3144

Aircraft

Piper PA-24-180

Registration

N6858P

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Lincoln Park → Pittstown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

NYC06LA038

2 people were seriously injured.

The improper installation of the helicoil by the non-certificated mechanic, and the inadequate inspection of the installation by the certificated mechanic.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

During climb-out from the departure airport, the pilot noticed the engine "felt off balance" and began to "misfire." The pilot initiated a return to the airport, and shortly thereafter the engine "backfired" and lost all power. The pilot initiated a forced landing, during which the airplane impacted trees and was substantially damaged. Examination of the engine revealed that a helicoil was cross threaded in the number 3 cylinder head, and metallic particles were adhered to the cylinder head and top of the piston. Thirteen days earlier, the pilot reported difficulty clearing one of the spark plugs, and he removed the number 3 cylinder bottom spark plug as a result. A mechanic then cleaned the spark plug hole, assured there were no steel particles in the cylinder, replaced the helicoil, installed a new spark plug, and ran the engine. The mechanic who installed the helicoil was non-certificated, and at the time the work was performed, a certificated mechanic was not present. According to Textron Lycoming Service Instruction No. 1043A, if a spark plug Helicoil insert replacement is performed with the cylinder assembled on the engine, "some provision must be made for preventing the aluminum shavings from entering the combustion chamber."

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.