Piper PA-28R-200 accident near Pollock, Louisiana, July 16, 2005
On July 16, 2005 at about 2:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-28R-200, registered N33720, was substantially damaged in an accident near Pollock, Louisiana. It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The loss of engine power due to a loose engine lubrication system component in the crankcase. A contributing factor was the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 16, 2005 · about 2:30 pm local time
- Place
- Pollock, Louisiana · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28R-200 · all PA-28R-200s on the register
- Registration
- N33720 · registry record · serial 28R-7535182
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
While in cruise flight, the engine sustained a total loss of engine power. The 4,095-hour private pilot initiated a forced landing to a trunk pipeline. The airplane impacted uneven terrain and came to rest in an upright position. Examination of the engine revealed that the number three cylinder had no compression, the number three piston apron and all eight hydraulic tappet bodies were heavily damaged. It was also noted that the piston cooling nozzle assembly was found disconnected and in the oil sump along with numerous metal fragments. The threaded portions of the piston cooling nozzle assembly and its crankcase receptacle were not damaged.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,096 hours in all; 609 in this make and model
- Last flight review: October 1, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,741.9 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 1, 2004; 84 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,600 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Ljs Aviation Enterprises LLC
The flight
- Departed from: KINJ Hillsboro TX at 1:00 pm
- Destination: K0R1 Atmore AL
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 0 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 1,000 ft; ovct at 1,000 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 30.02 inHg
- Observation at 2:39 pm from KAEX, 7 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
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.