BELLE CHASSE, LA, USA
N3446W
PIPER PA-32-260
THE ACFT DEPARTED SOUTHERN SEAPLANE'S LAND RWY 20 & CLIMBED TO APPROXIMATELY 200-300 FT WHERE IT WAS OBSERVED TRAILING WHITE SMOKE. IT TRAVELLED APPROXIMATELY 1.6 MI FROM ITS DEPARTURE POINT & STRUCK A TREE ON THE BANK OF THE ALGIERS OUTFALL CANAL. ENG TEAR DOWN INSPECTION REVEALED THAT THE #3 CYLINDER SUFFERED A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE. THE #5 CYLINDER & ROD ASSEMBLY WAS FOUND TO HAVE LOOSE CONNECTING ROD CAP NUTS. BOTH #3 & #5 CONRODS & CYLINDERS WERE REPLACED ON 9/29/81. #1, 2, & 4 CYLINDERS HAD SEVERAL DIME TO QUARTER SIZE PIECES OF ALUMINUM ON TOP OF THE PISTON INSIDE THE CYLINDERS.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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