NTSB CAROL · Event
Event LAX85FA130
Registry · N2129G
FAA Aircraft Registry record.
Make / Model
PIPER PA-32RT-300T
Year of manufacture
1978 · 7 years old at event
Engine
LYCOMING TI0-540 SER (310 hp)
Seats / Engines
7 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date
19781219
ADS-B equipped
Yes — Mode-S A1C48A
Registrant of record
NORTH CENTRAL MARKETING INC
Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).
Aircraft involved
Factual narrative
THE PLT RPTD THAT SHORTLY AFTER LEVELING OFF AT 11500 FT MSL, THE ENGINE EXPLODED CAUSING BOTH WINDSCREENS TO BE COVERED WITH OIL AND FIRE. THE FIRE STOPPED DURING THE EMERGENCY DESCENT. THE ACFT LANDED ON RY 30 AT BISHOP ARPT, BISHOP, CA WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. DISASSEMBLY EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED CRANKSHAFT FAILED AT THE SHORT CHEEK BETWEEN THE NO. 3 MAIN JOURNAL & THE NO. 4 CRANKPIN. THE NOS. 3 & 4 CONNECTING RODS & CAMSHAFT WERE FRACTURED. THE PISTONS SHOWED NO EVIDENCE OF ANY DETONATION. THE BACKSIDE OF THE CON RODS, MAIN JOURNAL BEARINGS & BOTH HALVES OF THE CRANKCASE SHOWED EXTENSIVE FRETTING SIGNATURES INDICATING MISALIGNMENT DURING MANUFACTURE. METALLURGICAL EXAMINATION REVEALED THE CRANKSHAFT FAILED IN FATIGUE. ALL OTHER FRACTURES WERE OVERLOAD SUBSEQUENT TO THE CRANKSHAFT FAILURE. THE ENGINE HAD ACCUMULATED 602 FLT HOURS SINCE NEW. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12
Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file
NTSB_1985_LAX85FA130.txt.
Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb.
Full investigation docket on
data.ntsb.gov ↗.
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