# Accident 19971119033689A: Cessna 177RG, Tomball, TX, November 19, 1997

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: November 19, 1997, 14:40 local time
- Place: Tomball, TX
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 30.0904° N, 95.6101° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.0904&lon=-95.6101&mi=10
- Aircraft: N88WC, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N88WC-1999-03-05) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 177RG (registry code 2073709, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-177rg) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming IO-360-A1B6D (registry code 41593, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-360-a1b6d) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 177RG
- Reported engine: LYC IO360A1B6
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 2,356 total, 2,173 in this make and model, 50 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB FTW98LA053](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW98LA053) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19971119033689A

## Narrative

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

ACFT DEVELOPED ENG PROB. PILOT ATT TO MAKE EMEG. LANDING ON ROAD. ACFT CLIPPED TREES,LANDED IN YARD, TOMBALL, TX.(.4) THE AIRPLANE WAS AT 2,000 FEET MSL ON AN IFR RADAR VECTOR FOR THE APPROACH WHEN THE ENGINE RPM SURGED, THE OIL PRESSURE DECREASED, THE ELECTRONIC ENGINE MONITOR INDICATED AN OVER TEMPERATURE CONDITION ON THE #4 CYLINDER, AND THE ENGINE STARTED RUNNING ROUGH AND VIBRATING. THE PILOT SHUT DOWN THE ENGINE, AND DECLARED AN EMERGENCY, AS THE AIRPLANE DESCENDED INTO VFR CONDITIONS AT 500 FEET MSL. A FORCED LANDING WAS EXECUTED TO A ROAD WITH TRANSMISSION LINES AND TREES. DURING THE LANDING FLARE AND TOUCHDOWN, THE LEFT WING OF THE AIRPLANE STRUCK TREES. THIS WAS THE FIRST FLIGHT FOLLOWING THE ANNUAL INSPECTION. THE LOWER AREA OF THE FUSELAGE WAS COVERED WITH OIL AND EXAMINATION REVEALED THAT A `LINE AND B-NUT AT THE TURBOCHARGER WASTEGATE WERE LOOSE.' THE #4 CYLINDER WAS SEIZED AND THE #4 ROD BEARING JOURNAL WAS DAMAGED. ON NOV. 8, 1996, THE TURBOCHARGER HAD BEEN OVERHAULED AND REINSTALLED. DURING THE LAST ANNUAL INSPECTION ON NOV. 19, 1997, THE MECHANIC HAD WELDED A PATCH ON THE TURBOCHARGER OUTLET ELBOW. AN ENGINE TEARDOWN REVEALED PHYSICAL EVIDENCE OF OIL STARVATION.

## 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 FTW98LA053](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW98LA053), Nov 19, 1997: Cessna 177RG (N88WC), Tomball, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The total loss of engine power resulting from the loss of oil and resultant seizure of a cylinder due to inadequate maintenance by maintenance personnel. A factor was the lack of suitable terrain for…

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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