Piper PA28-200 N872CS

Summary

On 10 June 2015 at about 10:40 local time, a Piper PA28-200 registered N872CS was involved in an accident near Jonesboro, Arkansas, 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

10 June 2015 at 10:40

Classification

Accident

Location

Jonesboro, Arkansas, United States

Nearest airport

Jonesboro Municipal Airport (JBR)

Coordinates

35.8317, -90.6464

Aircraft

Piper PA28-200

Registration

N872CS

Category

Airplane

Year built

1976

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Jonesboro → Stillwater

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN15LA270

Nobody was injured.

Maintenance personnel's improper engine oil drain valve installation, which led to engine oil exhaustion and the subsequent loss of engine power after takeoff at an altitude too low for the pilot to execute a forced landing in a suitable area.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The private pilot was taking off for a personal flight. The pilot reported that, about 3 to 5 minutes after takeoff, the oil light illuminated and that, shortly thereafter, while the airplane was about 1,800 ft mean sea level, the oil pressure gauge indicated 0. About 20 to 30 seconds later, a total loss of engine power occurred. The pilot attempted to return to the departure airport but was unable to reach the runway due to insufficient altitude. The pilot subsequently conducted a forced landing in a parking lot, during which the airplane impacted a sign pole. Examination of the airplane revealed that, during retraction, the nose landing gear (NLG) had contacted and broken the engine oil drain valve, which was the incorrect part number. The airplane manufacturer had previously issued a service letter, which noted that, when the wrong part number drain valve was installed, it was possible that during NLG retraction the valve may contact the NLG drag link, become actuated, and allow the oil to be drained out in flight. The accident flight was the first flight since the drain valve had been replaced the previous day during a 100-hour/annual inspection. Given the evidence, maintenance personnel did not install the correct part number drain valve during the inspection, which resulted in it contacting the NLG and breaking. The oil then drained from the broken valve, which resulted in oil exhaustion and the subsequent loss of engine power.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.