On February 11, 2007, a Piper PA-32-300 (registration N4258R) was involved in an aviation accident near Pellston, MI. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Failure of an engine cylinder due to fatigue originating from an area thinned by corrosion. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive; 8 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
An airplane was substantially damaged during a forced landing at night after the engine failed due to a fatigue crack in a cylinder, which originated from corrosion thinning.
Accident Overview
The airplane sustained substantial damage when it impacted trees and terrain during a forced landing at night. The forced landing was necessitated by a mechanical failure of the engine.
Engine Examination
Post-accident examination of the engine revealed that one of the engine cylinders had failed due to fatigue. The fatigue crack originated in a region where the cylinder wall had been thinned by corrosion. This area was covered by gray paint, which may have hidden the corrosion during visual inspections.
Maintenance History
The most recent annual inspection of the airplane included compression checks on all cylinders, which revealed normal readings. No mention was made of any corrosion or fatigue-related issues during that inspection.
Probable cause
Failure of an engine cylinder due to fatigue originating from an area thinned by corrosion.
What happened in the 11 Feb 2007 Piper PA-32-300 accident near Pellston, MI?
An airplane was substantially damaged during a forced landing at night after the engine failed due to a fatigue crack in a cylinder, which originated from corrosion thinning.
What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?
The accident on 11 Feb 2007 involved a Piper PA-32-300, registration N4258R, at Pellston, MI.
What was the probable cause of the accident?
Failure of an engine cylinder due to fatigue originating from an area thinned by corrosion.
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