# Accident 19961111035049A: Cessna 152, Grand Canyon, AZ, November 11, 1996

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: November 11, 1996, 11:05 local time
- Place: Grand Canyon, AZ
- Airport: Valle Airport
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Forced/Precautionary Landing
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 35.3708° N, 112.2602° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.3708&lon=-112.2602&mi=10
- Aircraft: N714VX, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N714VX-1999-06-17) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 152 (registry code 2071835, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-152) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-235 series (registry code 41505, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 152
- Reported engine: LYC O235L2C
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 138 total, 102 in this make and model, 5 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX97LA037](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX97LA037) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19961111035049A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

WITNESS REPORTED THAT THE AIRCRAFT WOBBLED AND CRASHED NOSE FIRST SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF. (.4)ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, DURING INITIAL CLIMB, THE ENGINE GRADUALLY LOST POWER. SUBSEQUENTLY, IT CRASH LANDED ON UNEVEN/ROCKY TERRAIN AND CAME TO REST AGAINST TREES IN AN INVERTED ATTITUDE. DENSITY ALTITUDE WAS COMPUTED TO BE ABOUT 7,300 FEET. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT PRIOR TO THE FLIGHT, WHEN HE FIRST STARTED THE ENGINE, NO INDICATION OF OIL PRESSURE WAS OBSERVED. HE SHUT DOWN THE ENGINE AND PURCHASED 1 QUART OF OIL. NO ABNORMAL INDICATIONS WERE OBSERVED DURING THE SUBSEQUENT GROUND CHECK OUT OR TAKEOFF ROLL. HOWEVER, DURING THE INITIAL CLIMB, THE OIL PRESSURE INDICATOR DROPPED TO ZERO POUNDS. A TEARDOWN EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE WAS PERFORMED. THE CRANKSHAFT ASSEMBLY REVEALED SIGNATURES CONSISTENT WITH HEAT DISTRESS IN THE NUMBER 2 MAIN JOURNAL AREA. THE OIL PUMP'S DRIVE SHAFT WAS FOUND BROKEN. A FOREIGN METAL OBJECT WAS OBSERVED WEDGED BETWEEN THE TEETH OF THE PUMP'S DRIVING AND DRIVEN GEARS, AND THE ENGAGEMENT END OF THE OIL PUMP DRIVE SHAFT WAS FOUND SHEARED OFF. THE FOREIGN OBJECT RESEMBLED A SMALL BOLT OR SCREW, WHICH WAS NOT                                                             USED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF THE ENGINE.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB LAX97LA037](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX97LA037), Nov 11, 1996: Cessna 152 (N714VX), Williams, AZ, destroyed. Probable cause: a foreign object in the oil system, which resulted in failure of the oil pump, oil starvation, loss of engine power, and a subsequent forced landing. Rough/uneven terrain in the emergency landing…

## Other reports on N714VX (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Accident 19890921035741A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890921035741A), Sep 21, 1989: Cessna 152 (N714VX), Chandler, AZ, Substantial damage. During climb saw N6277D 200 feet away. Tried to avoid but other crafts wing struck the tail. Landed at airport.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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