WINSTON-SALEM, NC, USA
N8774N
PIPER PA-28-140
SEVERAL MINUTES AFTER TAKEOFF, THE PILOT NOTICED A ZERO OIL PRESSURE INDICATION. AFTER TURNING BACK TO THE AIRPORT, THE ENGINE RPM BEGAN TO DECAY, THEN THE ENGINE QUIT. THE PILOT DITCHED THE AIRPLANE IN A LAKE ABOUT THREE MILES FROM THE AIRPORT. TEARDOWN ANALYSIS OF THE ENGINE REVEALED A FAILED #1 CYLINDER PISTON PIN PLUG. THE INTAKE LOBES ON THE CAMSHAFT WERE SEVERLY WORN, AND THE INTAKE TAPPET BODIES WERE SEVERELY SPALLED. THREE CONNECTING RODS WERE ALSO FOUND TO HAVE FAILED. THE OIL PRESSURE SCREEN WAS CONTAMINATED WITH FERROUS AND NON-FERROUS PARTICLES. THE PILOT REPORTED A LOSS OF OIL PRESSURE ON ANOTHER FLIGHT A FEW DAYS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT.
FAILURE OF A PISTON PIN PLUG WHICH RESULTED IN A TOTAL LOSS OF POWER. FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT WERE AN INADEQUATE ENGINE OVERHAUL WHICH LED TO PREMATURE ENGINE WEAR, AND THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO OBTAIN PROPER MAINTENANCE FOLLOWING A LOSS OF ENGINE OIL PRESSURE.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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