Piper PA-22-160 accident near Kenai, Alaska, October 27, 2022
On October 27, 2022, a 1957 Piper PA-22-160, registered N8119D, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Kenai, Alaska. It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Improper installation of the crankshaft drive gear by maintenance personnel, who failed to install all required hardware, resulting in an in-flight engine failure.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 27, 2022
- Place
- Kenai, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-22-160, built 1957 · all PA-22-160s on the register
- Registration
- N8119D · registry record · serial 22-5610
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Shortly after takeoff, the engine lost power and the propellor began to windmill. The flight instructor conducted emergency procedures but was unable to regain engine power. The flight instructor determined that they did not have sufficient altitude to make it back to the airport and he selected a road on which to make a forced landing. To avoid a car, the pilot turned slightly towards the edge of the road and was pulled into a snow berm, where the aircraft came to a full stop. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing and fuselage. A postaccident examination of the engine found the crankshaft drive gear bolt was missing and the gear alignment dowel pin on the crankshaft was broken. The missing bolt was not found during the postaccident examination. The engine was last disassembled in 1983 and the accessory gearbox was opened for an oil pump rebuild in 2006; the investigation was not able to identify how long the engine had operated with the bolt missing. The crankshaft drive gear drives the accessory gear box and, according to the engine manufacturer, failure of the gear or the gear attaching parts would result in complete engine stoppage.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Loss of engine power (total) during initial climb defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (reciprocating) › Recip eng rear section › Incorrect service/maintenance
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Maintenance › Installation › Maintenance personnel
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 963 hours in all; 340.5 in this make and model; 389.3 in the last 90 days; 86.3 in the last 30 days; 897.5 as pilot in command; 360.1 on instruments
- Last flight review: July 18, 2022
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 116 hours in all; 0 in this make and model
- Last flight review: October 17, 2022
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PAEN Kenai AK at 4:30 pm
- Destination: PAEN Kenai AK
- Flight plan: VFR
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 25°F (-4°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 4:30 pm from PASX
Weather report (METAR): METAR PAEN 270353Z 15003KT 10SM CLR M04/M04 A2878 RMK AO2 SLP749 T10391039
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on October 5, 2023. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Lycoming Sb 475C | PDF, 7 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Photos | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.