N82AW

On April 15, 2000, at 1030 central daylight time, a North American T-28B, N82AW, piloted by an airline transport pilot, was destroyed on impact with terrain following a loss of engine power in cruise flight. The personal 14 CFR Part 91 flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions and was not on a flight plan. The pilot received no injuries and his one passenger received minor injuries. The flight originated from the Schaumburg Regional Airport, Schaumburg, Illinois, at 1003, and was en route to the Ross County Airport, Chillicothe, Ohio.

The pilot reported that after leveling off at 9,500 feet he noticed an engine oil pressure reading that was lower than he was accustomed to. He stated that he adjusted the engine and prop settings and that the oil pressure was now at the "... high end of the green band." The pilot said that he decided that he would land the airplane, but before he could accomplish this, the oil pressure dropped to 25-20 psi. The pilot contacted air traffic control (ATC) and declared an emergency. ATC issued the pilot vectors to the Greater Kankakee Airport (IKK), Kankakee, Illinois. He said, "at five miles I had the airport in sight and knew instantly I was way too high for the southeast runway. ... I was still high and lowered the gear with the full intention of making the hard surface runway." The pilot reported that during the descent, the engine was vibrating violently and that the "...descent rate became excessively high." The aircraft came to rest about 1 mile north of IKK.

According to a report filed by a Federal Aviation Administration Inspector, a postaccident examination of the engine revealed evidence of "...engine oil venting through the breather vent on the left side of the fuselage immediately aft of the engine cowl." The report also states that the intake tubes for cylinders number 7 and 8 "...contained a large amount of oil. The impeller section of the engine was wet with oil. This would indicate the loss of impeller seal between this section and the power section of the engine." The report also states that only the number 1 piston, which contains the master connecting rod, would move consistent with propeller movement.