Piper PA 32R-300 N4213F

Summary

On 30 October 2017 at about 12:26 local time, a Piper PA 32R-300 registered N4213F was involved in an accident near Dawsonville, Georgia, United States. One person was 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

30 October 2017 at 12:26

Classification

Accident

Location

Dawsonville, Georgia, United States

Coordinates

34.4344, -84.1767

Aircraft

Piper PA 32R-300

Registration

N4213F

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

Gainesville → Gary

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ANC18LA006

1 person was seriously injured.

The failure of the pilot, who was not a certified mechanic, to tighten the B-nut on a remotely mounted oil filter line, which resulted in oil exhaustion, a total loss of oil pressure, and a subsequent total loss of engine power.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The private pilot was conducting a personal flight and reported that, while the airplane was climbing after takeoff, the engine began to run roughly and lose power. The pilot began a descent for an emergency landing and, during the descent, he sensed a "bad" engine vibration, which was followed by a complete loss of engine power. The pilot selected an area on an asphalt-covered automobile racetrack to make a forced landing, which resulted in substantial damage to the airplane's wings and fuselage. A postaccident engine examination revealed a crack in the accessory case and a large hole in the crankcase near the No. 6 cylinder pad. A subsequent internal examination revealed damage to the engine's internal components, including the main bearings and the No. 6 connecting rod, that was consistent with oil exhaustion. The airplane was equipped with a remotely mounted oil filter. A B-nut on one of the oil filter lines was found to be loose with about 2 ½ threads showing. The B-nut was tightened by hand and rotated about 1 ¾ turns, which resulted in about ½ thread showing. The pilot stated that he was not an airframe and powerplant mechanic but that he had replaced the oil line about 1 week before the accident. The accident flight was the first flight after that maintenance.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.