Piper PA 28-161 N3024S

Summary

On 12 May 2015 at about 03:41 local time, a Piper PA 28-161 registered N3024S was involved in an accident near Ranger, Texas, United States. 2 people were on board and one was seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

12 May 2015 at 03:41

Classification

Accident

Location

Ranger, Texas, United States

Coordinates

32.4294, -98.6239

Aircraft

Piper PA 28-161

Registration

N3024S

Category

Airplane

Year built

1979

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Abilene → Cleburn

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Night

NTSB number

CEN15LA228

1 person was seriously injured.

A total loss of engine power during cruise flight due to piston fatigue cracking for reasons that could not be determined due to postfracture smearing damage.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The commercial pilot reported that, during cruise flight on a night training flight, he heard "two knocks" coming from the engine, followed by a total loss of power. After attempting to restart the engine without success, the pilot executed a forced landing onto a field, during which the airplane impacted a tree. Teardown of the engine revealed that the No. 4 piston crown and connecting rod were fractured. Laboratory examination revealed two thumbnail-shaped fatigue cracks on the piston crown's underside near an oil drain hole along the top oil groove on the piston circumference. The fatigue cracks had propagated from initiation sites along the circumferential oil groove at or near the oil drain hole. The cause of the initiation of the fatigue cracks could not be determined due to postfracture smearing damage.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.