Accident Details
On July 12, 2012, at 0700 mountain daylight time, a Piper PA-25-235 airplane, registration N8801L, was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a loss of engine power near Mott, North Dakota. The commercial pilot, who was also the registered owner and operator, was not injured. The flight was conducted under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 without a flight plan. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local aerial-application flight, which originated from Mott Municipal Airport (3P3) at about 0615.
According to the pilot, the engine experienced a loss of oil pressure and power while maneuvering during the aerial-application flight. During the forced landing, the pilot attempted to reach a nearby road, but the airplane impacted a hay bale and subsequently a roadside ditch. The accident caused substantial damage to the fuselage and left wing.
Postaccident Examination
A postaccident examination of the airframe revealed engine oil covering the lower fuselage, left fuselage sidewall, left horizontal stabilizer, and left elevator. An external examination of the engine showed no crankcase damage. The engine oil dipstick indicated little to no available oil within the engine. The oil lines associated with the oil cooler were removed for examination. One oil line had ruptured about 13 inches from the oil cooler. The reinforcing steel braiding of the oil line was corroded, and a majority of the individual steel strands were fractured in the immediate area surrounding the rupture.
Aircraft and Engine Information
The engine was a Lycoming O-540-B2C5, serial number L-14001-40, which had accumulated 1,618 hours since its last overhaul on April 1, 1987. A review of available maintenance records indicated no unresolved maintenance items and no history of engine oil leaks since the overhaul. No engine issues were identified during the last annual inspection on August 2, 2011. The airplane had accumulated 46 hours since that inspection. The installation date and total time in service of the ruptured oil line could not be determined from available records.
Weather Conditions
The closest weather observing station was at Hettinger Municipal Airport (KHEI), about 25 miles southwest of the accident site. At 0653, the automated surface observing system reported wind from 240 degrees at 5 knots, visibility 10 miles, clear sky, temperature 18°C, dew point 14°C, and altimeter setting 29.99 inches of mercury.