Piper PA28 accident near Homestead, Florida, November 11, 2013
On November 11, 2013 at about 1:30 pm local time, a 1971 Piper PA28, registered N1830T, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (cruise) near Homestead, Florida. It was an instructional 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
A total loss of engine power due to the in-flight separation of the No. 3 cylinder because of the fatigue cracking of its respective mounting studs and through bolts, which resulted from inadequate maintenance by unknown personnel.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 11, 2013 · about 1:30 pm local time
- Place
- Homestead, Florida · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA28 140, built 1971 · all PA28s on the register
- Registration
- N1830T · no longer on the register · serial 28-7125231
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The student pilot reported that the airplane was in cruise flight at 5,500 ft mean sea level when the engine began to vibrate. Shortly after, the engine "began coming apart" with pieces striking the underside of the cowling, indicative of a catastrophic failure. The student pilot performed a forced landing to a swampy area. The airplane came to rest in shallow water and sustained substantial fuselage damage. Examination of the engine revealed that the No. 3 cylinder had separated from the crankcase. During subsequent examination, both through bolts and three of the four remaining cylinder studs were also found fractured, and the fracture surfaces were consistent with fatigue cracking, likely due to insufficient application of torque on the through bolts during installation or the loss of torque in the through bolts. Additionally, unapproved room temperature vulcanization-type material found on the crankcase halves could have contributed to a loss of torque on the through bolts, but a definitive determination could not be made. The engine was overhauled about 28 years before the accident, and it had been operated for about 1,050 total hours since the overhaul. The airplane's most recent annual inspection was performed about 8 months before the accident, and it had been operated about 230 hours since the inspection. Available maintenance records did not reveal any in-service cylinder replacements or reinstallations.
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
- Aircraft maintenance event during prior to flight
- Loss of engine power (total) during enroute (cruise) defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during emergency descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (reciprocating) › Recip eng cyl section › Failure
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Maintenance › Scheduled/routine maintenance › Other/unknown
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft handling/service › Maintenance/inspections › (general) › Incorrect service/maintenance
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (reciprocating) › Recip eng cyl section › Incorrect service/maintenance
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Terrain › Water › Not specified
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 179 hours in all; 179 in this make and model; 87 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 40 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 1, 2013; 230 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A1A (piston); 3,250 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: EYW Key West FL at 12:30 pm
- Destination: SRQ Sarasota/Bradenton FL
- Flight plan: VFR
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 020° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 30.07 inHg
- Observation at 1:58 pm from HST, 25 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.