YONCALLA, OR, USA
N54265
MURPHY BARRACUDA
WHILE ESTABLISHED IN CRUISE AT 4000 FEET THE PILOT HEARD A PECULIAR SOUND AND OBSERVED DECREASING ENGINE RPM. AS THE RPM CONTINUED TO DECREASE TO 1200 THE PILOT SECURED THE ENGINE VIA THE IGNITION AND INITIATED A FORCED LANDING TO A FIELD ALONGSIDE AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY. DURING HIS APPROACH TO THE NORTH HE FOUND HIS GROUND SPEED TO BE EXCESSIVE AND ATTEMPTED A 180 DEGREE TURN DURING WHICH TIME THE LEFT WINGTIP IMPACTED THE GROUND. SUBSEQUENT EXAMINATION OF THE FORD V6 ENGINE REVEALED THAT THE OIL FILTER/ COOLER HAD VIBRATED LOOSE ALLOWING THE ENGINE OIL TO LEAK OVERBOARD.
THE ENGINE OIL FILTER VIBRATING LOOSE RESULTING IN OIL STARVATION, AND THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S MISJUDGMENT OF WINDS. A FACTOR CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS UNFAVORABLE WINDS.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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