BRIGHTON, MI, USA
N3536M
PIPER PA-28R-201
THE PLT WAS ON A X-COUNTRY FLT WHEN HE NOTICED THE OIL PRESSURE WAS DECREASING RAPIDLY. HE ELECTED TO MAKE AN OFF-AIRPORT LANDING, BUT THE ENGINE SEIZED BEFORE HE COULD REACH THE SELECTED AREA. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE AIRCRAFT WAS DAMAGED DURING A WHEELS UP LANDING. INITIAL TOUCHDOWN WAS ON A GRAVEL ROAD AND THE ACFT HIT A BERM BEFORE SLOWING TO A STOP. AN EXAM OF THE AIRCRAFT AND ENGINE REVEALED AN OIL (QUICK) DRAIN VALVE (AEROQUIP PN: AE80664H) HAD BEEN INSTALLED ON 7/10/87. IT WAS INSTALLED WITH A 4-3/8 INCH HOSE THAT EXTENDED BELOW THE ENGINE RESERVOIR, IN THE VICINITY OF THE LANDING GEAR. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE DRAIN VALVE WAS PUSHED OPEN BY MOVEMENT OF THE LANDING GEAR AS IT WAS BEING RETRACTED. THIS RESULTED IN LOSS OF OIL & SUBSEQUENT ENGINE SEIZURE. THIS DRAIN VALVE WAS NOT APPROVED FOR INSTALLATION ON THIS MODEL OF AIRCRAFT. PIPER SERVICE LETTER 910 & AD 81-11-02/R1 SPECIFIED USE OF ANOTHER VALVE (PIPER PN: 492-172V).
INSTALLATION OF AN IMPROPER OIL DRAIN VALVE BY OTHER MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL AND THEIR FAILURE TO FOLLOW THE APPLICABLE AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE (AD 81-11-02/R1), RESULTING IN SUBSEQUENT INTERFERENCE BETWEEN THE LANDING GEAR AND OIL DRAIN VALVE. THIS CAUSED THE VALVE TO MOVE OPEN & LEAK, WHICH RESULTED IN THE LOSS OF ALL ENGINE OIL.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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