Piper PA-22-150 N7640D

Summary

On 22 January 2019 at about 18:15 local time, a Piper PA-22-150 registered N7640D, operated by J & H Sewing & Vacuum Inc, was involved in an accident near Anchorage, Alaska, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

22 January 2019 at 18:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Anchorage, Alaska, United States

Nearest airport

Soldotna (SXQ)

Coordinates

60.9033, -150.1636

Aircraft

Piper PA-22-150

Registration

N7640D

Category

Airplane

Year built

1957

Engines

1

Operator

J & H Sewing & Vacuum Inc

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Soldotna → Anchorage

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Dawn

NTSB number

ANC19LA011

1 person had minor injuries.

A loss of engine power due to oil starvation as the result of a loose B-nut fitting on the engine oil cooler, resulting in a forced landing to a soft, snow-covered surface, and a subsequent nose over.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that while in level cruise flight he noticed the smell of burning oil, which was immediately followed by a change in engine sound, followed by a partial loss of engine power. The engine continued to lose power and the pilot selected a snow-covered beach as a forced landing site. During touchdown, as the airplane's main landing gear wheels contacted an area of deep snow, it abruptly nosed over, sustaining substantial damage to the wings, fuselage, and empennage. Examination of the engine revealed that there was no engine oil in the sump. An oil cooler B-nut, which was located on the right side of the oil cooler, was found loose, and there was a significant oil streaking on the right side of the fuselage. Review of maintenance records revealed that there had been no recent maintenance activity to the oil cooler or other engine components adjacent to the loose B-nut. Given the accident pilot’s account of the accident, along with the discovery of the loose oil cooler B-nut, it is likely that the engine failed due to oil starvation after all engine oil was lost through the loose B-nut.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.