Pilot Debrief

CESSNA 210D near Paris, TN — 2024-01-22

Final reportERA24LA095
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Date
2024-01-22
Location
Paris, TN, USA
Airport
PHT
Aircraft
CESSNA 210D
Registration
N3857Y
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Cruise

Probable cause

The disruption of torque to the No 4 connecting rod journals, which resulted in a spun bearing and the subsequent total loss of engine power.

NTSB narrative

The pilots reported the airplane started to shake violently during cruise flight, and oil then covered the windscreen. The engine subsequently lost all power. The flight instructor took control of the airplane and performed a forced landing to a nearby airport. During the forced landing, the airplane’s main landing gear contacted the airport perimeter fence, resulting in the airplane nosing over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings and the engine firewall. Postaccident examination of the engine revealed that the No. 4 cylinder crankshaft connecting rod journals showed evidence of lubrication distress and metal transfer between the bearing and the journal. Review of the airplane’s maintenance logbooks revealed that three of the engine’s six cylinders were replaced about 3 years before the accident, with the remaining three having been replaced about 2 years before the accident. Given this information, and the condition of the No. 4 connecting rod journals, it is likely that the torque on the journals was disrupted during the cylinder replacement(s) which resulted in a spun bearing.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Mechanical failure
First missed decision gate
Performing timely engine maintenance before the flight could have prevented failure.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • Photos
  • 8 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents8

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