Accident Piper PA-32R-301T N362DM,
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ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 287450
 
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Date:Thursday 23 August 2012
Time:08:05 LT
Type:Silhouette image of generic P32R model; specific model in this crash may look slightly different    
Piper PA-32R-301T
Owner/operator:
Registration: N362DM
MSN: 3257362
Year of manufacture:2004
Total airframe hrs:1411 hours
Engine model:Lycoming TIO 540 SER
Fatalities:Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 3
Aircraft damage: Substantial
Category:Accident
Location:Riverview, Florida -   United States of America
Phase: Standing
Nature:Private
Departure airport:Tampa-Peter O. Knight Airport, FL (TPF/KTPF)
Destination airport:Miami-Opa locka Executive Airport, FL (OPF/KOPF)
Investigating agency: NTSB
Confidence Rating: Accident investigation report completed and information captured
Narrative:
The airplane experienced an electrical discrepancy shortly after an instrument departure. The pilot advised the air traffic controller that he would be returning to the airport. While en route, the pilot noted a film of oil on the windshield. It became more pronounced, and the engine oil pressure dropped to '0.” The pilot declared an emergency and landed the airplane on an interstate highway median. An 8-foot section of the left wing separated when it collided with a highway traffic sign during the landing roll. The postaccident engine examination revealed that the oil leak was from the propeller governor gasket; specifically, the leak originated from the lower left lock nut area that secures the control cable tube end support bracket to the governor's engine-mounted stud. The nut and lock washer were not properly seated and anti-tamper putty was present. The disassembly of that area revealed that the lower left corner of the gasket had several cracks promulgating to that lower left section of the gasket, which permitted the oil to escape. The top section of the tube end of the support bracket was missing (broken off), which would not allow for an even mounting torque pressure between the gasket, the propeller governor, and the engine surfaces.

A review of the airplane's maintenance records revealed no history of any discrepancies that would require the removal of the control cable support bracket tube end. Based on physical damage to the control cable bracket tube end, it is likely that, at an unknown time, the tube end was removed from the stud and damaged during installation. This did not permit a proper seal of the gasket, which created the leak.

Probable Cause: Damage to the propeller governor gasket during installation by unknown persons, which resulted in a total loss of engine oil in flight and a subsequent forced landing.

Accident investigation:
cover
  
Investigating agency: NTSB
Report number: ERA12LA524
Status: Investigation completed
Duration: 11 months
Download report: Final report

Sources:

NTSB ERA12LA524

Location

Revision history:

Date/timeContributorUpdates
04-Oct-2022 10:59 ASN Update Bot Added

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