1993-06-02: Piper PA-32-300 — Skagway Air Service, Inc. — Skagway, AK

Casualties unknown • Skagway, AK, US

Probable cause

A TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER AS A RESULT OF A FATIGUE FAILURE OF THE #2 CONNECTING ROD. A FACTOR WHICH CONTRIBUTED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN FOR THE EMERGENCY LANDING.

— NTSB Determination

Accident narrative

ABOUT 15 MIN AFTER DEPARTING SKAGWAY, WHILE MANEUVERING OVER A GLACIER, THE PILOT NOTED DECREASING ENGINE OIL PRESSURE. SHORTLY THEREAFTER THE ENGINE BEGAN TO EMIT METALLIC SOUNDS, AND THEN THE ENGINE QUIT. AN EMERGENCY LANDING WAS MADE ON THE GLACIER. ON-SCENE EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED THAT THE #2 CYLINDER CONNECTING ROD HAD FAILED. SUBSEQUENT METALLURGICAL EXAMINATION BY THE SAFETY BOARD REVEALED THAT THE FRACTURE OF THE ROD THROUGH THE STRAP AREA ADJACENT TO THE HEAD OF THE ROD BOLT DISPLAYED FEATURES TYPICAL OF A FATIGUE FRACTURE.

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Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 1993-06-02 Piper PA-32-300 accident near Skagway, AK?

ABOUT 15 MIN AFTER DEPARTING SKAGWAY, WHILE MANEUVERING OVER A GLACIER, THE PILOT NOTED DECREASING ENGINE OIL PRESSURE. SHORTLY THEREAFTER THE ENGINE BEGAN TO EMIT METALLIC SOUNDS, AND THEN THE ENGINE QUIT. AN EMERGENCY LANDING WAS MADE ON THE GLACIER. ON-SCENE EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED THAT THE #2 CYLINDER…

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 1993-06-02 involved a Piper PA-32-300, registration N8127K, operated by Skagway Air Service, Inc., at Skagway, AK.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

A TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER AS A RESULT OF A FATIGUE FAILURE OF THE #2 CONNECTING ROD. A FACTOR WHICH CONTRIBUTED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN FOR THE EMERGENCY LANDING.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20001211X12498. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.

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