Incident Overview
On November 30, 2014, about 1740 central standard time, a Piper PA-28R-201T (registration N533MC) was damaged during a hard landing at Addison Airport near Dallas, Texas. The aircraft, registered to Metroplex Flight Services, LLC and operated by the pilot under 14 CFR Part 91 as a personal flight, had departed from Eppley Airfield in Omaha, Nebraska, approximately 1700. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed.
Sequence of Events
The pilot reported that during the landing, a gust of wind encountered just prior to touchdown pushed the airplane sideways into the grass adjacent to the 100-foot-wide runway. The airplane subsequently landed hard, resulting in substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. The pilot and his three passengers were not injured.
Weather and Aircraft Condition
Weather conditions at the airport included wind from 50 degrees left of runway heading at 9 knots, gusting to 19 knots. The pilot noted no abnormalities with the flight control system. However, during the cruise portion of the flight, smoke was entering the cockpit from behind the instrument panel. The pilot opened the vent window, and the smoke cleared, with no obstruction to vision during landing.
Post-Accident Examination
Examination of the aircraft after the accident revealed that three of the four screws attaching the valve cover on the right rear cylinder were missing. Evidence of oil leaking from the valve cover onto the exhaust was observed.