Accident Overview
On December 15, 2015, at 1050 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-32-300, registration N8675N, made a forced landing approximately 0.1 mile north of Malcolm McKinnon Airport (SSI) in Brunswick, Georgia. The forced landing followed a catastrophic engine failure. The pilot and the passenger sustained minor injuries. The airplane landed on the roof of a home and collided with trees, resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage and wings.
Flight Details
The airplane was registered to a private company and operated as a 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. Visual flight rules conditions existed near the accident site. No flight plan was filed for the flight, which originated from Jacksonville Executive at Craig Airport (CRG) in Jacksonville, Florida, about 1020, and was destined for Rock Hill/York County/Bryant Field (UZA) in Rock Hill, South Carolina.
Pilot Account
The pilot reported that while in cruise flight at 7,500 feet mean sea level (msl), a loud explosion occurred from the engine without warning, followed by an immediate loss of engine power. The explosion caused the oil filler door to open and partially pushed the Garmin 430 out of the dashboard. Oil spewed over the windshield, and smoke filled the cockpit. The pilot declared an emergency and attempted to glide to St. Simons Airport in St. Simons, Georgia, but landed on a rooftop a few hundred yards short of the runway. There was no post-impact fire.
Engine Examination
On January 26, 2016, the National Transportation Safety Board conducted an examination of the engine. The examination revealed that the No. 4 cylinder had separated from the engine case. The cylinder skirt was split in several areas, consistent with the piston making contact with the cylinder after separation. Groove marks etched on the top of the piston were consistent with it striking the cylinder skirt. All of the No. 4 cylinder's mounting stubs and thru-bolts were fractured except for the bottom forward stud. The piston and corresponding connecting rod for the No. 4 cylinder were found in the bottom of the engine cowling. The other engine components appeared unremarkable. The engine was completely disassembled, and the No. 4 crank-journal showed no signs of bearing migration or excessive heat. However, numerous gouges and scratches were present throughout the inside of the engine from debris after the cylinder separated.
Maintenance History
A review of the engine logbook revealed that the engine was overhauled in February 2007 and installed on the airplane on March 16, 2007. The last engine inspection was completed on November 17, 2015, at a total time of 1,005.0 hours since overhaul. A review of the engine's maintenance history since the overhaul indicated no maintenance had been performed on the No. 4 cylinder.