Lancair IV N864KM

Summary

On 30 August 2015 at about 14:55 local time, a Lancair IV registered N864KM was involved in an accident near Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States. 2 people were on board and one was seriously injured. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

30 August 2015 at 14:55

Classification

Accident

Location

Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States

Coordinates

26.1972, -80.1708

Aircraft

Lancair IV

Registration

N864KM

Category

Airplane

Year built

1997

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Fort Lauderdale → Lynchburg

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA15LA332

1 person was seriously injured.

The mechanic's improper installation of the turbocharger assembly, which resulted in oil starvation and a subsequent total loss of the engine power.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot stated that, during the climb to cruise altitude, he noticed a loss of engine oil pressure. He declared an emergency with air traffic control (ATC) and requested to return to the airport. After ATC acknowledged, the pilot advised ATC that he lost all engine power and had to make an emergency landing. During the forced landing, the airplane collided with a ditch and was destroyed by postcrash fire. An examination of the engine revealed that it failed catastrophically, displaying signatures of lubrication distress; further, no measurable quantity of oil could be recovered from within the engine. Detailed examination of the engine's turbochargers revealed that one of the two units displayed evidence of burnt oil on the external surface and evidence of a foreign material in the unit's center housing, on the thrust bearing, and on the thrust collar. The foreign material was identified as polyethylene (plastic), similar to that used to protect the exposed orifices of the engine during shipment. Review of maintenance records revealed that the pilot/mechanic had replaced both turbochargers with overhauled units two days before the accident flight. The turbocharger overhauler provided installation instructions and warnings that, in part, stated, "Remove all protective caps and plugs BEFORE installing this turbocharger." The foreign material discovered within the turbocharger's center housing suggests that the protective plastic cap at the oil outlet was likely not removed during the installation. It is likely that the turbocharger center housing filled with oil, which then flowed out of the engine via the turbocharger housing backplate, resulting in oil starvation and the subsequent total loss of engine power.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.