Pilot Debrief

CESSNA 182 near Gainesville, FL — 2016-02-28

Final reportERA16LA114
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Date
2016-02-28
Location
Gainesville, FL, USA
Airport
GNV
Aircraft
CESSNA 182
Registration
N2861R
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Minor
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Descent

Probable cause

The failure of the engine crankshaft near the Nos. 4 and 5 crankshaft journals due to oil starvation. The reason for the oil starvation could not be determined during postaccident examination.

NTSB narrative

The commercial pilot stated that, before takeoff, he conducted a preflight inspection of the airplane and added 1 quart of oil to make a total of 8 quarts of oil in the airplane; the engine runup was normal. He further stated that the approximate 2-hour flight was uneventful until after he was cleared to land, when the engine began to run "rough." He enriched the mixture and reduced power, but the engine began shaking, oil sprayed onto the windshield, and then the engine lost total power. He declared an emergency and conducted a forced landing on a road, during which the left wing impacted a tree. An examination of the engine revealed that the crankshaft's Nos. 4 and 5 connecting rod journals exhibited discoloration and heat damage, consistent with oil starvation, and that the rods had separated from the crankcases at their respective journals. The main bearing support mating surfaces were intact and exhibited no signs of fretting, bearing movement, or bearing rotation. The oil galleys and passages in the crankshaft and engine case halves were clear and unrestricted. Although an unmeasured quantity of oil was noted in the engine's oil sump, due to the damage of the sump and crankcase, the quantity of oil in the engine before the accident could not be determined.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Engine power loss
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have aborted the landing when engine began to run rough.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

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

Docket documents11

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