The National Transportation Safety Board did not travel to the scene of this accident.
Additional Participating Entity:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Wichita, Kansas
Aviation Accident Factual Report - National Transportation Safety Board: https://app.ntsb.gov/pdf
Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board: https://dms.ntsb.gov/pubdms
http://registry.faa.gov/N7336Z
Location: Westphalia, KS
Accident Number: CEN17LA372
Date & Time: 09/28/2017, 1716 CDT
Registration: N7336Z
Aircraft: PIPER PA 25-235
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Loss of engine power (total)
Injuries: 1 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 137: Agricultural
On September 28, 2017, at 1716 central daylight time, a Piper PA-25-235 airplane, N7336Z, impacted terrain following a loss of engine power while maneuvering at low altitude near Westphalia, Kansas. The commercial pilot, who was the sole occupant, was not injured, and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The airplane was registered to and operated by a private individual under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 as an aerial application flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed for the flight. The local flight departed the Garnett Municipal Airport (K68), Garnett, Kansas, about 1630.
According to the pilot, the airplane departed K68 with full fuel and chemical for the aerial application flight. After spraying a field for about 20 minutes, the engine lost power. The pilot jettisoned his chemical load and initiated a forced landing to a field. About 5 feet above the field as the pilot tried to bleed off airspeed, the airplane stalled and impacted terrain. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The Lycoming O-540-B2B5 engine was removed from the airframe for further examination.
A review of the maintenance records showed the engine underwent a field major overhaul on January 28, 2016, about 218 hours prior to the accident.
On October 25, 2017, the engine was disassembled under the supervision of the Federal Aviation Administration inspectors. Disassembly of the engine revealed the crankshaft was fractured, and the main bearings displayed thermal damage and smearing. The crankshaft and main bearings were retained for further examination.
The fractured crankshaft and forward main journal bearings were examined by the National Transportation Safety Board Materials Laboratory. Examination of the crankshaft showed a fracture across a web located between the second cylinder (C2) journal and the second main (M2) journal. Approximately 60% of the fracture surface exhibited a general flat portion with crack arrest marks. The crack arrest marks appeared to emanate out from near the corner of the web near the M2 journal. The crack arrest features were not consistent with having progressed from a surface or from an internal feature, but were consistent with a subsurface crack initiation, and fatigue crack propagation. The fatigue striations, particularly near the initiation site, were consistent with high-cycle fatigue.
The forward main bearing (M1) journal displayed discoloration and dark circumferential wear marks on the aft most two inches. One aft bearing surface revealed spalling, displacement, and cracking consistent with bearing wear fatigue. The other aft bearing surface exhibited spalling, material displacement, and smearing. Much of the spalled and smeared material was found accumulated in the lubrication groove. All the bearing damage was typical of similar bearings that operated at elevated temperatures with inadequate lubrication.
Pilot Information
Certificate: Commercial
Age: 43, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Single-engine Land
Seat Occupied: Center
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None
Restraint Used: 4-point
Instrument Rating(s): None
Second Pilot Present: No
Instructor Rating(s): None
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: Class 2 Without Waivers/Limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: 05/11/2017
Occupational Pilot: Yes
Last Flight Review or Equivalent: 01/05/2017
Flight Time: 463 hours (Total, all aircraft), 233 hours (Total, this make and model), 408 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft), 96 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 32 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft), 5 hours (Last 24 hours, all aircraft)
Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information
Aircraft Make: PIPER
Registration: N7336Z
Model/Series: PA 25-235 UNDESIGNATED
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture: 1965
Amateur Built: No
Airworthiness Certificate: Restricted
Serial Number: 25-3285
Landing Gear Type: Tailwheel
Seats: 1
Date/Type of Last Inspection: 01/01/2017, Annual
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 2299 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection: 110 Hours
Engines: 1 Reciprocating
Airframe Total Time:
Engine Manufacturer: LYCOMING
ELT: Not installed
Engine Model/Series: O-540-B2B5
Registered Owner: DAVISON LYNN L
Rated Power: 260 hp
Operator: On file
Operating Certificate(s) Held: Agricultural Aircraft (137)
Meteorological Information and Flight Plan
Conditions at Accident Site: Visual Conditions
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: KIXD, 1087 ft msl
Distance from Accident Site: 36 Nautical Miles
Observation Time: 1653 CDT
Direction from Accident Site: 45°
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear
Visibility: 10 Miles
Lowest Ceiling: None
Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: 6 knots /
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual: / None
Wind Direction: 360°
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual: /
Altimeter Setting: 30.2 inches Hg
Temperature/Dew Point: 23°C / 12°C
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Precipitation
Departure Point: Garnett, KS (K68)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Destination: Garnett, KS (K68)
Type of Clearance: None
Departure Time: 1630 CDT
Type of Airspace: Class G
Wreckage and Impact Information
Crew Injuries: 1 None
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 1 None
Latitude, Longitude: 38.185000, -95.483611 (est)
NTSB Identification: CEN17LA372
14 CFR Part 137: Agricultural
Accident occurred Thursday, September 28, 2017 in Westphalia, KS
Aircraft: PIPER PA 25-235, registration: N7336Z
Injuries: 1 Uninjured.
This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed. NTSB investigators may not have traveled in support of this investigation and used data provided by various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.
On August 28, 2017, at 1716 central daylight time, a Piper PA-25-235 airplane, N7336Z, impacted terrain following a loss of engine power while maneuvering at low altitude near Westphalia, Kansas. The commercial pilot, who was the sole occupant, was not injured, and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The airplane was registered to and operated by a private individual. The aerial application flight was conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed for the flight. The local flight departed the Garnett Municipal Airport (K68), Garnett, Kansas, about 1645.
According to the Federal Aviation Administration inspector who spoke to the pilot, the airplane departed K68 with full fuel and chemical for the aerial application flight. After spraying a field for about 20 minutes, the engine lost power. The pilot initiated a forced landing to a field. About 5 feet above the field, the airplane stalled and impacted terrain. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing.
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