Accident Overview
On October 26, 2022, at approximately 1656 Alaska daylight time, a Piper PA-22-160 aircraft, registration N8119D, sustained substantial damage during an accident in Kenai, Alaska. The flight instructor and the pilot receiving instruction, who held a private pilot certificate, were not injured. The flight was conducted under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a general aviation training flight.
Sequence of Events
The purpose of the flight was pilot training. The airplane departed from Kenai Municipal Airport. Shortly after takeoff, the engine lost total power and the propeller began to windmill. The flight instructor executed emergency procedures but was unable to restore engine power. He informed the airport tower of the power loss and received clearance to land back at the airport. However, he determined that the altitude was insufficient to return to the airport and executed a landing on a road approximately 2 miles southeast of the airport. During the landing roll, to avoid a car, the instructor turned slightly toward the edge of the road, and the airplane entered a snow berm, where it came to rest. The impact caused substantial damage to the right wing and fuselage.
Postaccident Examination
A postaccident examination of the engine revealed that the crankshaft drive gear was missing a bolt and had a broken dowel pin on the crankshaft. The missing bolt was not located during the examination. According to the engine manufacturer, failure of the gear or its attaching components would result in complete engine stoppage. The engine was last disassembled in 1983, and the accessory gearbox was opened for an oil pump rebuild in 2006. The crankshaft drive gear drives the accessory gearbox.