WORCESTER, MA, USA
N763DS
PIPER PA-28-181
AT NIGHT, WHILE ENROUTE TO NORTHAMPTON, MASSACHUSETTS, THE AIRPLANE ENGINE FAILED. THE PILOT LANDED IN THE PARKING LOT OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS MEDICAL CENTER, WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, AND COLLIDED WITH A CAR AND A UTILITY POLE THAT COULD NOT HAVE BEEN AVOIDED. THE ENGINE EXAMINATION REVEALED THE OIL PUMP FAILED. THE CONNECTING RODS WERE OVERTEMPERTURED, AND THE BEARINGS OF THE CONNECTING RODS HAD FAILED. BENCH BINOCULAR MICROSCOPIC EXAMINATION OF THE DRIVE AND DRIVEN IMPELLER FRACTURE SURFACES OF THE OIL PUMP REVEALED THAT THEY BROKE AS A RESULT OF OVERSTRESS SEPARATIONS. THE DRIVEN IMPELLER HAD CHARACTERISTICS TYPICAL OF A SINTERED-POWER-METAL COMPONENTS, THE TOTAL TIME ON THE COMPONENT WAS 1828.0 HOURS. THE DRIVE IMPELLER APPEARED TO BE MACHINED FROM BARSTOCK (STEEL). SB-456C TIME OF COMPLIANCE WAS AT NEXT OVERHAUL, NOT TO EXCEED 2000 HOURS WITH SINTERED IRON GEARS.
A POWER LOSS DUE TO AN OIL PUMP FAILURE WHILE OPERATING OVER UNSUITABLE TERRAIN. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS NIGHT CONDITIONS.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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