1989-07-26: Piper PA-22 — Placerville, CA

Casualties unknown • Placerville, CA, US

Probable cause

THE IMPROPER MAINTENANCE PERFORMED AT THE LAST OVERHAUL WHICH RESULTED IN THE FAILURE OF THE #3 MAIN BEARING. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE LACK OF A SUITABLE LANDING AREA FOR THE EMERGENCY LANDING.

— NTSB Determination

Accident narrative

SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF THE RPM DECAYED AND THE ENGINE SEIZED. THE INSTRUCTOR FLEW TO THE ONLY AVAILABLE FIELD IN THE AREA BUT IT WAS ON THE SIDE OF A HILL. THE FIELD WAS ROUGH, UNEVEN AND COVERED WITH ROCKS. THE AIRPLANE WAS DEMOLISHED AND ALL THREE PEOPLE ON THE AIRPLANE RECEIVED SERIOUS INJURIES. TEARDOWN OF THE ENGINE REVEALED THE CENTER MAIN BEARING HAD FAILED AND FRAGMENTS OF THE BEARING SEPARATED FROM THE BEARING BACKING, AND ROLLED UP BETWEEN THE BEARING AND CRANKSHAFT.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 1989-07-26 Piper PA-22 accident near Placerville, CA?

SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF THE RPM DECAYED AND THE ENGINE SEIZED. THE INSTRUCTOR FLEW TO THE ONLY AVAILABLE FIELD IN THE AREA BUT IT WAS ON THE SIDE OF A HILL. THE FIELD WAS ROUGH, UNEVEN AND COVERED WITH ROCKS. THE AIRPLANE WAS DEMOLISHED AND ALL THREE PEOPLE ON THE AIRPLANE RECEIVED SERIOUS INJURIES. TEARDOWN OF THE…

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 1989-07-26 involved a Piper PA-22, registration N5925D, at Placerville, CA.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

THE IMPROPER MAINTENANCE PERFORMED AT THE LAST OVERHAUL WHICH RESULTED IN THE FAILURE OF THE #3 MAIN BEARING. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE LACK OF A SUITABLE LANDING AREA FOR THE EMERGENCY LANDING.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20001213X28873. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.

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