Piper PA 28R-200 N2837R

Summary

On 27 February 2015 at about 19:19 local time, a Piper PA 28R-200 registered N2837R, operated by Nightingale Charles H, was involved in an accident near Frankenmuth, Michigan, United States. 2 people were 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

27 February 2015 at 19:19

Classification

Accident

Location

Frankenmuth, Michigan, United States

Coordinates

43.2600, -83.6600

Aircraft

Piper PA 28R-200

Registration

N2837R

Category

Airplane

Year built

1969

Engines

1

Operator

Nightingale Charles H

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Flint → Saginaw

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN15LA157

Nobody was injured.

The failure of the engine due to a lack of oil lubrication for reasons that could not be determined during postaccident examinations.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that, during climbout on the return leg of an out-and-back flight, he noticed the engine hesitate for 1 or 2 seconds and then recover to normal operation. The pilot continued climbing the airplane and proceeded toward his home airport. While approaching the airport, the engine made abnormal noises, followed by a total loss of power. The pilot then executed a forced landing into a field. Postaccident examinations of the engine revealed that it had a very low quantity of oil; however, no visible evidence of oil loss or indication of excess oil consumption was found. A teardown examination of the engine revealed that all four piston connecting rods had failed. The failure signatures were consistent with a lack of lubrication. Based on the evidence, it is likely that the engine failed due to a lack of oil lubrication; however, the reason for the lack of oil could not be determined.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.