Accident Piper PA-28-201T N8089N, Sunday 16 May 1982

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Date:	Sunday 16 May 1982
Time:	12:47 LT
Type:	Piper PA-28-201T
Owner/operator:	California Aviation
Registration:	N8089N
MSN:	28-7921058
Total airframe hrs:	635 hours
Engine model:	Continental TSIO-360-FB
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 4
Other fatalities:	0
Aircraft damage:	Substantial
Category:	Accident
Location:	Van Nuys, CA - United States of America
Phase:	En route
Nature:	Private
Departure airport:	Santa Monica, CA
Destination airport:	Porterville, CA (KPTV)
Investigating agency:	NTSB
Confidence Rating:	Accident investigation report completed and information captured

Narrative:
DURING FLIGHT AT ABOUT 1500 FT, THE ENGINE SUDDENLY LOST POWER AND THE PROPELLER STOPPED TURNING. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED A RESTART, BUT THE STARTER WOULD NOT TURN THE PROPELLER. THE PILOT MANEUVERED TO MAKE A FORCED LANDING AT THE VAN NUYS AIRPORT. THE AIRCRAFT CRASH LANDED BETWEEN RUNWAYS 16L AND 16R WHILE IT WAS STILL IN A TURN. WHILE RECOVERING THE AIRCRAFT, A HOLE WAS FOUND IN THE TOP RIGHT SIDE OF THE ENGINE. A DISASSEMBLE AND INSPECTION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED THE NUMBER TWO CONNECTING ROD, PN 642130, HAD FAILED FROM FATIGUE DUE TO PARTIAL SURFACE DECARBURIZATION.

Probable Cause:

Accident investigation: