Piper PA 28R-201T accident near Atmore, Alabama, September 7, 2015
On September 7, 2015 at about 8:30 pm local time, a 1977 Piper PA 28R-201T, registered N44903, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (cruise) near Atmore, Alabama. It was a personal 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
A total loss of engine power due to oil starvation caused by insufficiently torqued cylinder through bolt nuts, which caused bearings to shift and led to the subsequent failure of the No. 3 connecting rod.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 7, 2015 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- Atmore, Alabama · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA 28R-201T 201T, built 1977 · all PA 28R-201Ts on the register
- Registration
- N44903 · registry record · serial 28R-7703341
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The private pilot and the passenger departed on a cross-country flight. The pilot stated that the airplane was at an altitude of 4,500 ft mean sea level when the engine lost oil pressure, followed by a total loss of engine power. The pilot landed the airplane on a two-lane country road. During the landing roll, the airplane's right wing struck mailboxes, which caused substantial damage to the right wing. Examination of the engine revealed the torque values for the No. 2 cylinder upper through bolt nuts, both No. 3 cylinder through bolt nuts, and the No. 5 cylinder through bolt nuts were below factory specifications for breakaway torque. Further examination revealed that the No. 3 connecting rod was separated from the crankshaft, the No. 2 main bearings had shifted, and there were signs of oil starvation. The likely insufficiently torqued nuts allowed the No. 2 bearings to shift and rotate, which resulted in oil starvation to the corresponding connecting rods and main bearings and ultimately led to the failure of the No. 3 connecting rod, ancillary damage to other internal components of the engine, and a total loss of engine power. Review of maintenance records revealed that the No 3. cylinder had been removed and reinstalled about 1 year before the accident. The engine's most recent annual inspection was completed about 9 months before the accident. There were no irregularities noted, and all airworthiness directives were complied with as noted by the mechanic. The investigation could not determine whether the loosening of the nut torque was due to improper installation or another unrelated issue.
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 enroute (cruise) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (reciprocating) › Recip eng oil sys › Malfunction
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (reciprocating) › Recip engine power section › Damaged/degraded
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (reciprocating) › Recip eng cyl section › Failure
- cause Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Oil › Fluid level
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,413 hours in all; 850 in this make and model; 22 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: May 16, 2014
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,923 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 1, 2014; 75 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,912 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Cont Motor TSIO-360-FB (piston); 2,363 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 5R4 Foley AL at 7:50 pm
- Destination: TCL Tuscaloosa AL
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 4,900 ft
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 29.94 inHg
- Observation at 7:56 pm from NSE, 29 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.