Pilot Debrief

MAULE MXT-7-180A near Magnolia, AR — 2010-10-02

Final reportCEN11LA005
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Date
2010-10-02
Location
Magnolia, AR, USA
Airport
AGO
Aircraft
MAULE MXT-7-180A
Registration
N152HS
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Climb

Probable cause

The mechanic's failure to properly install an oil drain line after he replaced a cylinder, which caused the engine to seize in flight due to a lack of lubrication.

NTSB narrative

The pilot was on a night cross-country flight when he heard a knocking sound in the engine. He immediately proceeded toward the nearest airport, declared an emergency, and noted that the oil pressure gauge read "0" and the oil temperature gauge read "high." When the airplane was about 5 miles south of the airport, and at an altitude of 1,700 feet, the engine seized. The pilot made a forced landing to a field and subsequently collided with a fence, causing substantial damage to the airplane. Examination of the engine revealed a large hole in the top of the crankcase and that the oil drain line for the No. 4 cylinder was not connected. A review of the engine logbook indicated that the No. 2 cylinder had been removed on the day of the accident, which would have required the No. 4 cylinder oil drain line to be disconnected. When the cylinder was placed back on the engine, the oil drain line was likely not reconnected and properly torqued per the manufacturer's maintenance manual.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Engine power loss
First missed decision gate
Reconnect the oil drain line after replacing the #2 cylinder.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • 5 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents5

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