1989-01-17: Piper PA-32-300 — Fort Myers, FL

Casualties unknown • Fort Myers, FL, US

Probable cause

FAILURE OF THE #5 CONNECTING ROD BOLT. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: DARK NIGHT AND THE SOFT AND WET (MARSHY) TERRAIN CONDITIONS IN THE EMERGENCY LANDING AREA.

— NTSB Determination

Accident narrative

THE PILOT STATED THAT DURING THE INITIAL CLIMB AFTER TAKEOFF, HE HEARD A 'POP' & THE ENGINE STARTED RUNNING ROUGH. HE TURNED BACK TOWARD THE AIRPORT. ABOUT 2 MIN LATER, THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE, WHICH WAS FOLLOWED BY A PROGRESSIVE LOSS OF ALL POWER. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT WAS DAMAGED DURING AN EMERGENCY LANDING AT NIGHT IN A MARSHY AREA ABOUT 1 TO 2 MI FROM THE AIRPORT. AN EXAM OF THE ENGINE REVEALED THE #5 CONNECTING ROD CAP BOLT HAD FAILED, WHICH RESULTED IN FURTHER DAMAGE OF THE ENGINE.

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Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 1989-01-17 Piper PA-32-300 accident near Fort Myers, FL?

THE PILOT STATED THAT DURING THE INITIAL CLIMB AFTER TAKEOFF, HE HEARD A 'POP' & THE ENGINE STARTED RUNNING ROUGH. HE TURNED BACK TOWARD THE AIRPORT. ABOUT 2 MIN LATER, THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE, WHICH WAS FOLLOWED BY A PROGRESSIVE LOSS OF ALL POWER. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT WAS DAMAGED DURING AN EMERGENCY LANDING AT…

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 1989-01-17 involved a Piper PA-32-300, registration N4763T, at Fort Myers, FL.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

FAILURE OF THE #5 CONNECTING ROD BOLT. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: DARK NIGHT AND THE SOFT AND WET (MARSHY) TERRAIN CONDITIONS IN THE EMERGENCY LANDING AREA.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20001213X27625. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.

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