ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 360929
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| Date: | Thursday 13 January 1994 |
| Time: | 18:15 LT |
| Type: |  Piper PA-28-236 |
| Owner/operator: | Bruske Enterprises, Inc. |
| Registration: | N8117Z |
| MSN: | 28-8011026 |
| Year of manufacture: | 1979 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 1971 hours |
| Engine model: | Lycoming O-540-J3A5D |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1 |
| Aircraft damage: | Substantial |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | Highland, IN -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | En route |
| Nature: | Executive |
| Departure airport: | Harrisburg, PA (MDT |
| Frankfort, IL (C18) | |
| Investigating agency: | NTSB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
WHILE FLYING IN INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS THE AIRPLANE'S ELECTRICAL SYSTEM CEASED OPERATING. ESTIMATING ONE HOUR OF FUEL REMAINING, THE PILOT DESCENDED THROUGH THE CLOUDS IN SEARCH OF AN AIRPORT. ONCE BELOW THE CLOUDS, THE PILOT STATED, HE ENCOUNTERED RAPIDLY DECREASING VISIBILITY DUE TO SNOW AND DARKENING SKY. AFTER APPROXIMATELY 45 MINUTES OF FLYING, THE PILOT LANDED THE AIRPLANE IN A FARM FIELD. DURING THE LANDING ROLL THE AIRPLANE'S LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR AND NOSE GEAR SEPARATED FROM THE AIRFRAME. AN ON-SCENE INVESTIGATION REVEALED A DISCONNECTED ALTERNATOR BELT. THE ALTERNATOR'S MOUNTING LUG HAD SEPARATED FROM THE UNIT ALLOWING THE ALTERNATOR TO MOVE AWAY FROM ITS ENGINE MOUNTING. THE TYPE OF FRACTURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED DUE TO SURFACE POLISHING.
Probable Cause: An electrical system failure due to a fractured alternator mounting lug. Factors related to the accident were the rough terrain, and decreasing visibility due to snow and darkness.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
NTSB CHI94LA062
History of this aircraft
Other occurrences involving this aircraft
| 6 January 1984 | N8117Z | Private | 0 | Del Rio, TX | |
sub |
Location
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 16-Mar-2024 12:46 | ASN Update Bot | Added |
Corrections or additions? ... Edit this accident description
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