Accident Piper PA-28R-180 N7550J, Friday 9 July 1982

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Date:	Friday 9 July 1982
Time:	12:14 LT
Type:	Piper PA-28R-180
Owner/operator:	Private
Registration:	N7550J
MSN:	28R-30925
Year of manufacture:	1968
Total airframe hrs:	3100 hours
Engine model:	Lycoming IO-360-B1E
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 2
Other fatalities:	0
Aircraft damage:	Substantial
Category:	Accident
Location:	Carrollton, GA - United States of America
Phase:	En route
Nature:	Private
Departure airport:	Ashville, NC
Destination airport:	Montgomery, AL
Investigating agency:	NTSB
Confidence Rating:	Accident investigation report completed and information captured

Narrative:
DURING CRUISE FLIGHT THE PILOT SMELLED OIL FOLLOWED SHORTLY THEREAFTER BY THE ENGINE OIL PRESSURE GOING TO ZERO AND THEN THE ENGINE FAILING. THE PILOT MADE A FORCED LANDING IN A FIELD WHERE THE LEFT MAIN GEAR COLLAPSED AFTER CONTACTING A ROCK. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE ALUMINUM PROPELLER GOVERNOR TUBE BETWEEN THE PROPELLER GOVERNOR AND THE PROPELLER HUB HAD CRACKED. THE STEEL CLAMP THAT SECURES THIS TUBE TO THE OIL PAN EXHIBITED WEAR SIMILAR TO THAT FOUND ON THE TUBE AND ITS RUBBER INSULATOR WAS WORN AND FOUND OUT OF POSITION. AN ANNUAL AND A 100 HOUR INSPECTION HAD BEEN ACCOMPLISHED ON 6/29/82.

Probable Cause:

Accident investigation: