# Accident 19971213041139A: Cessna 175A, Houston, TX, December 13, 1997

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: December 13, 1997, 12:10 local time
- Place: Houston, TX
- Airport: May Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 29.9997° N, 95.6698° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.9997&lon=-95.6698&mi=10
- Aircraft: N6846E, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6846E-2021-07-03) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 175A (registry code 2072504, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-175a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental GO-300 series (registry code 17024, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-go-300-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 175A
- Reported engine: CONT GO300C
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 1,460 total, 160 in this make and model
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB FTW98LA062](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW98LA062) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19971213041139A

## Narrative

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

LOST POWER ENROUTE. FORCE LANDED WEST OF AIRPORT. NOSED OVER IN MUD. 175 NOT FLOWN 10YRS. ONLY OIL CHGE FUEL FLUSH. (.4) DURING CRUISE FLIGHT AT FULL THROTTLE AND ENGINE RPM AT 2,700 TO 2,800 (MAXIMUM 3,200 RPM), THE ENGINE RAN ROUGH. AS THE ENGINE RPM AND OIL PRESSURE DECREASED, EMERGENCY PROCEDURES PERFORMED BY THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR DID NOT RESTORE ENGINE POWER. DURING THE FORCED LANDING IN A WET FIELD, THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED AND THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER TO AN INVERTED POSITION. THIS WAS THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR'S FIRST FLIGHT IN THIS MAKE AND MODEL OF AIRCRAFT. BEFORE TAKEOFF, THE LEFT MAGNETO DROP WAS BEYOND THE 125 RPM MAXIMUM DROP ALLOWABLE. THE LAST ANNUAL INSPECTION WAS CONDUCTED IN APRIL 1997 AT A TACHOMETER READING OF 1,956.59 HOURS. THE TACHOMETER READING AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT WAS 1,995.61 HOURS. A TEARDOWN OF THE ENGINE REVEALED A HOLE IN THE #6 CYLINDER PISTON, AND SEPARATION OF THE ROD CAP AND BOLTS FOR THE #3 CYLINDER CONNECTING ROD. THE COMPONENTS OF THE #3 CONNECTING ROD EXHIBITED OVERLOAD FEATURES. THE #6 CYLINDER PISTON EXHIBITED PHYSICAL EVIDENCE OF DETONATION OR PREIGNITION.                                                                                     (-23) AIRCRAFT DEPARTED ON A TRAINING FLIGHT WITH TWO OCCUPANTS ON BOARD FROM DWH. APPROXIMATELY 10 MIN INTO FLIGHT AND AT LEVEL OFF, AIRCRAFT COULD NOT MAINTAIN POWER. RPM'S COULD NOT BE MAINTAINED AND STEADILY DROPPED OFF. AIRCRAFT TURNED SOUTH TO TRY AND MAKE A FORCED LANDING AT "MAY" AIRPORT (2XS3). PROPELLER EVENTUALLY STOPPED IN FLIGHT AND AIRCRAFT PERFORMED A FORCED LANDING APPROXIMATELY 1/2 MILE WEST OF 2XS3 INTO A MUDDY FIELD. AIRCRAFT ROLLED APPROXIMATELY 40' AND THEN FLIPPED OVER. SUBSTANTIAL A/C DAMAGE AND 2 MINOR INJURIES RESULTED.

## 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 FTW98LA062](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW98LA062), Dec 13, 1997: Cessna 175A (N6846E), Houston, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The total loss of engine power resulting from detonation and the ensuing failure of the engine piston and connecting rod components. Factors were: the instructor's decision to take off with a known…

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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