NTSB Finds Improper Maintenance Was a Cause of 2020 Crash of Piper PA-28

Pilot error is the most common cause of crashes of light planes, but in the case of a Piper PA-28 that landed long and went through a fence two years ago in Upstate New York, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) found that the primary cause was someone else's mistake.

The takeoff of the PA-28-161 Warrior on October 4, 2020, seemingly started without any issue as the aircraft rolled down the runway at Oswego County Airport (KFZY) in Fulton, New York. That is until shortly after liftoff when the windscreen became covered with oil.

The pilot attempted to return to the airport and land on the departure runway. However, according to the NTSB analysis, the aircraft touched down more than halfway down the runway where the pilot was unable to stop the aircraft, overrunning the runway, striking a chain link fence. This caused substantial damage to the airplane and minor injuries to the pilot.

Examination of the engine found that the crankshaft expansion plug dislodged. The expansion plug was recently installed during maintenance that occurred three days before to the accident. The mechanic who performed the repairs said that he installed the crankshaft plug using a procedure that he has utilized in the past, which included what the NTSB called the "unconventional" use of a ball-peen hammer to seat the plug instead of the recommended procedures and special tools that were specified by the engine manufacturer.

The NTSB's probable cause for the accident was listed as "The mechanic's improper maintenance, which resulted in the crankshaft expansion plug dislodging in flight and a subsequent forced landing."

What are the top 10 pilot errors? Read up on them HERE.

Sam WinerAuthor

Sam has his commercial fixed wing and rotorcraft rating, with just under 1,000 hours of total time. He owned a helicopter flight school in the Chicago area for over 11 years and worked as a pilot for radio traffic reporting services in the Chicago market. In addition, Sam has worked in the fast-paced radio news environment as a news anchor and traffic reporter in the Chicago, Milwaukee and Salt Lake City markets. His informative and humorous writing style, coupled with decades of experience in the aviation world, will provide easy reading with timely topics for the beginning aviator all the way up to the ATP professional.