Summary
On December 01, 1996, a Piper PA-28-180 (N9545J) was involved in an accident near Sugarloaf Key, FL. The accident resulted in 1 serious injury, 1 minor injury. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.
The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this accident to be: A complete loss of engine power due to a disconnected connecting rod cap.
On December 1, 1996, about 1200 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-28-180, N9545J, registered to a private owner, operating as a Title 14 CFR Part 91, personal flight, crashed during a forced landing near Sugarloaf Key, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The airplane was substantially damage. The private pilot received serious injuries, and one passenger received minor injuries.
While in cruise flight the pilot noticed a fluctuation in engine rpm. The engine lost power, and the pilot elected to land on a road. As the airplane touched down the left wing struck the brush on the side of the road, veered left, and turned 180 degrees opposite the direction of travel.
This accident is documented in NTSB report MIA97LA032. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N9545J.
Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
a complete loss of engine power due to a disconnected connecting rod cap.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Historical)
Analysis
On December 1, 1996, about 1200 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-28-180, N9545J, registered to a private owner, operating as a Title 14 CFR Part 91, personal flight, crashed during a forced landing near Sugarloaf Key, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The airplane was substantially damage. The private pilot received serious injuries, and one passenger received minor injuries.
While in cruise flight the pilot noticed a fluctuation in engine rpm. The engine lost power, and the pilot elected to land on a road. As the airplane touched down the left wing struck the brush on the side of the road, veered left, and turned 180 degrees opposite the direction of travel. Witnesses reported seeing black smoke coming from the engine before impact.
The airplane's engine was disassembled under the supervision of the FAA, at Certified Engines Inc., Opa-Locka, Florida, on December 12, 1996. The engine examination revealed that the No. 3 connecting rod cap had become detached from the crankshaft assembly, resulting in external damage to the engine. In addition, the FAA inspector stated, the remaining connecting rod assemblies were found to be "incorrectly installed," and the nuts were "all found opposite end down." The No. 2 and No. 4 assemblies were found to be "loose."
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# MIA97LA032