Piper PA-24-250 accident near Savannah, Georgia, October 21, 1990
On October 21, 1990 at about 7:26 pm local time, a Piper PA-24-250, registered N5506P, was substantially damaged in an accident near Savannah, Georgia. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
TOTAL FAILURE OF A CONNECTING ROD CAP BOLT WHICH RESULTED IN A TOTAL LOSS OF POWER.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 21, 1990 · about 7:26 pm local time
- Place
- Savannah, Georgia · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-24-250 · all PA-24-250s on the register
- Registration
- N5506P · no longer on the register · serial 24-369
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE IN CRUISE FLIGHT, AT ABOUT 2000 FEET, THE ENGINE QUIT WITH A BANG. OIL COVERED THE WINDSCREEN. THE PILOT MADE A FORCED LANDING INTO A SWAMPY, MARSHY AREA, WITH THE LANDING GEAR RETRACTED. SUBSEQUENT EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE BY A MECHANIC REVEALED THAT THE NO. 5 & 6 CONNECTING RODS HAD SEPARATED. THE DAMAGE WAS DETERMINED TO BE THE RESULT OF A ROD CAP BOLT FAILURE. THE ENGINE HAD 1851 TOTAL HOURS. A TOP OVERHAUL WAS COMPLETED ABOUT 875 HOURS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,500 hours in all; 80 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 12 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,891 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 8, 1990
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-A1A5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: RBW Walterboro SC at 7:00 pm
- Destination: SFB Sanford FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 14 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 5,500 ft; scat at 2,500 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:26 pm from SAV, 20 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
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.