N160LLPiper PA-28RT-201 · 1979

On June 6, 2022, about 1610 central daylight time, a Piper PA-28RT-201, N160LL, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport (ECP), Panama City, Florida. The pilot and one passenger were fatally injured, and another passenger sustained serious injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.

On the morning of the accident, the pilot and passengers arrived at ECP, and the pilot parked the airplane on a local fixed-base operator (FBO) ramp about 0941. About 1100, the FBO moved the airplane to another location on the ramp because the pilot and passengers were not returning until later in the day.

A review of the data downloaded from an onboard avionics system revealed that during the flight to ECP, the oil pressure initially stabilized at 89 pounds per square inch (psi) and decreased gradually as oil temperature increased. Immediately before takeoff power was set, the oil pressure had reduced to about 50 psi. The oil pressure remained steady at 80 psi during the flight. After landing, the oil pressure ranged between 50 and 70 psi (depending on the engine power setting).

A review of security camera video revealed that the pilot returned to the airplane about 1530. He opened the baggage compartment, entered and exited the cockpit multiple times, walked around the front of the airplane, and stopped in front of each wing until the two passengers arrived about 1541. During these 11 minutes, he did not appear to spend any appreciable time inspecting the airplane’s engine or the ground below it. About 1551, the airplane exited the FBO ramp and taxied to runway 34.

Onboard avionics system data showed that immediately after the engine was started for the accident flight, the oil pressure stabilized at about 67 psi. The oil pressure gradually decreased as the oil temperature increased and continued decreasing as the aircraft taxied to the runway. Immediately before takeoff, the oil pressure had reduced to about 10 psi. When the engine was advanced to takeoff power, the oil pressure dropped to 4 psi.

According to automatic dependent system broadcast (ADS-B) data, the airplane began the takeoff roll about 1606 and reached a peak altitude of about 1,200 ft mean sea level (msl). According to summary of air traffic control communications, the pilot declared an emergency about 1609. ADS-B data showed that the airplane began to descend, made a 180° left turn, and then continued to descend until it impacted trees and terrain about 1.7 miles from the runway threshold. The ADS-B data ended about 190 ft before the main wreckage; figure 1 shows the airplane’s flight track.

Figure 1 - ADS-B data showing the accident flight track.

According to the pilot’s logbook, on May 25, 2022, the pilot performed a flight that the logbook described as “TEST ARROW”.

According to the most recent annual inspection, the airplane had a tachometer time of 508.6 hours. During the annual inspection, a new avionics system was installed, which included a Dynon Skyview HDX panel display and a Dynon electronic flight instrument system. The airframe maintenance logbook indicated that the work was performed by five people, one of whom was the pilot, and was signed off by a mechanic with inspection authorization. Additionally, Federal Aviation Administration Form 337, Major Repairs and Alterations, indicated that the installation of the Dynon Skyview HDX was performed in accordance with Dynon Skyview HDX System Installation Manual, dated October 28, 2020.

The installation manual stated the following:

Mount the oil pressure sensor securely to the airplane’s structure using appropriate AN/MS hardware fittings, clamps, and flexible hose….

DO NOT mount the sensor directly to engine or other areas of high vibration.

Always mount the sensor to the airframe structure, and connect it with flexible hose to minimize vibration effects.

Mounting the sensor directly to the engine may cause sensor failure/leakage and possibly fire.

According to the airplane flight log, the tachometer time on June 5, 2022, was 511.5 hours. Furthermore, on an entry dated May 25, 2022, the entry indicated that the pilot flew the airplane with “Fly Test” written next to his name.

According to the most recent annual inspection, the airplane had a tachometer time of 508.6 hours. During the annual inspection, a new avionics system was installed, which included a Dynon Skyview HDX panel display and a Dynon electronic flight instrument system. The airframe maintenance logbook indicated that the work was performed by five people, one of whom was the pilot, and was signed off by a mechanic with inspection authorization. Additionally, Federal Aviation Administration Form 337, Major Repairs and Alterations, indicated that the installation of the Dynon Skyview HDX was performed in accordance with Dynon Skyview HDX System Installation Manual, dated October 28, 2020.

The installation manual stated the following:

Mount the oil pressure sensor securely to the airplane’s structure using appropriate AN/MS hardware fittings, clamps, and flexible hose….

DO NOT mount the sensor directly to engine or other areas of high vibration.

Always mount the sensor to the airframe structure, and connect it with flexible hose to minimize vibration effects.

Mounting the sensor directly to the engine may cause sensor failure/leakage and possibly fire.

According to the airplane flight log, the tachometer time on June 5, 2022, was 511.5 hours. Furthermore, on an entry dated May 25, 2022, the entry indicated that the pilot flew the airplane with “Fly Test” written next to his name.

The airplane came to rest upright in an area of dense brush at an elevation of 25 ft. All major components of the airplane were located near the main wreckage. Multiple tree branches located along the debris path exhibited black paint transfer and were cut at 45° angles. Flight control cable continuity was established from the cockpit to the flight control surfaces. Oil was noted along the bottom right side of the fuselage.

The three-blade propeller remained attached to the engine. The spinner was impact damaged, all blades remained attached to the hub, and one of the blades exhibited chordwise scratching.

Postaccident examination of the engine revealed a breach of the crankcase near the No. 4 cylinder. The engine was disassembled, and continuity of the crankshaft was confirmed. No anomalies were noted on the main journals of the crankshaft. The No. 4 connecting rod journal exhibited thermal damage, and bearing material was found welded/smeared to the crankshaft journal. The No. 4 connecting rod cap, connecting rod bolts, and bearing pieces were found in the oil sump along with other metallic debris and a trace amount of oil. The oil drain plug remained seated and safety wired to the oil sump. The oil pump rotated freely by hand. The oil pump was disassembled, and no scoring was noted on the oil pump gears or the housing. The oil pressure sensor was separated from the engine. The sensor’s rigid copper line was fractured at the fitting to the accessory section of the crankcase, as shown in figure 3.

Figure 3. Fractured oil pressure sensor line.

The rigid copper line and oil pressure sensor were examined by the National Transportation Safety Board Materials Laboratory. The examination revealed that most of the fracture occurred on a flat plane perpendicular to the tube axis, and a darker region with a smooth curving boundary was observed at one side identified as the origin area, as shown in figure 4. The figure also shows that fatigue features emanated from the origin area and extended to the boundary approximately indicated with dashed lines. The remainder of the fracture surface showed a change in fracture plane with dimple features on the fracture surface; those features were consistent with ductile overstress fracture of the remaining ligament of the tube wall.

Figure 4. Oil pressure sensor line fracture surface after cleaning. The dashed lines indicate the approximate fatigue boundary from the origin area, which is indicated with a bracket.