Piper PA-32RT-300T N321GS

Summary

On 12 March 2006 at about 22:15 local time, a Piper PA-32RT-300T registered N321GS was involved in an accident near Baker, Florida, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 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

12 March 2006 at 22:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Baker, Florida, United States

Coordinates

30.8333, -86.6667

Aircraft

Piper PA-32RT-300T

Registration

N321GS

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Memphis → Destin

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

MIA06LA063

2 people had minor injuries.

A loss of engine power due to an oil line leak and oil exhaustion. A contributing factor was the unsuitable terrain on which to make a forced landing.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The flight instructor and instrument student were on an IFR cross-country flight. While descending from 11,000 feet to 5,000 feet, the oil annunciator light illuminated and the oil pressure gage was not indicating any pressure. The engine began to run rough and vibrate, and then lost power. They declared an emergency and were vectored towards a nearby airport. The engine made "a loud squealing noise" before it shut down completely. Unable to reach the airport, they made a forced landing on unsuitable terrain. Post-accident examination of the engines revealed a breach in the crankcase above the no. 6 cylinder. The no. 6 connecting rod had separated from the crankshaft, and the connecting rod and crankshaft journal exhibited heat distress from the loss of lubrication. A fragment of a broken connecting rod bolt exhibited signs of ductile overload. The oil hose supplying pressure lubrication to the turbo bearing (p.n. 124F003-6GR0262 rated at 1,500 psi) was found to be making contact with the exhaust system pipes, and the heat shield was burned through at two locations, exhibiting chafing and heat distress. Pressure test of the hose produced air bubbles. According to the engine maintenance logbook, two damaged oil lines had been removed and replaced the year before due to overheat from the exhaust system.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.