Summary
On June 04, 2006, a Piper PA-28R-200 (N4438T) was involved in an incident near Alpine, CA. All 2 people aboard were uninjured. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.
The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this incident to be: A loss of engine power due to the aviation maintenance technician's failure to install the correct oil sump quick drain, which resulted in the inadvertent draining of engine oil during flight.
On June 4, 2006, at 1256 Pacific daylight time, a Piper PA-28R-200, N4438T, lost oil pressure during flight and the certified flight instructor (CFI) made a precautionary landing in a field in Alpine, California. During the landing, the landing gear punctured through the wings and resulted in substantial damage. Anglo American Aviation International was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The CFI and private pilot undergoing instruction were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed for the local area instructional flight.
This incident is documented in NTSB report LAX06CA191. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N4438T.
Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
a loss of engine power due to the aviation maintenance technician's failure to install the correct oil sump quick drain, which resulted in the inadvertent draining of engine oil during flight.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Current)
Analysis
On June 4, 2006, at 1256 Pacific daylight time, a Piper PA-28R-200, N4438T, lost oil pressure during flight and the certified flight instructor (CFI) made a precautionary landing in a field in Alpine, California. During the landing, the landing gear punctured through the wings and resulted in substantial damage. Anglo American Aviation International was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The CFI and private pilot undergoing instruction were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed for the local area instructional flight. The airplane departed from Gillespie Field, El Cajon, California, at 1200.
In an interview with the aviation maintenance technician (AMT) immediately following the accident, he stated that the oil sump quick drain valve was replaced on June 4. The AMT flew the airplane to Gillespie Field from Borrego Springs and noted a 2-quart loss of oil. The AMT replaced the oil and retorqued the newly installed valve. The CFI test flew the airplane and did not note any loss of oil.
The CFI reported that following the maintenance test flight, he departed with the student on the accident flight and approximately 50 minutes into the flight, the oil pressure decreased and the revolutions per minute were fluctuating. The CFI shut down the engine and performed a forced landing in a field.
In an interview with the operator, he reported that the installed quick drain was a Safe-Air P5000. Examination of the quick drain showed that this was the installed drain.
The Federal Aviation Administration issued airworthiness directive (AD) 81-11-02 R1 on October 2, 1981. The AD requires that within the next 50 hours time in service or at the next oil change, install two warning placards, one on each side, on the lower engine mount beneath the intake and the exhaust tubes which reads:
CAUTION
Unapproved oil drain valves can cause inadvertent draining when the gear is retracted- use only Piper approved part.
The AD also notes that Piper part number 492-172V is the approved part for this installation. In the closed position, the valve extension is 0.21-inch. The Safe-Air P5000 quick drain valve extension is 1.9 inches.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# LAX06CA191