20040918025009A

Accident · Destroyed

FAA accident report · Cessna 172M · Houstonia, MO · September 18, 2004

Date: September 18, 2004 · 12:32 local
Place: Houstonia, MO
Phase of flight: Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Destroyed
Aircraft: N80237
NTSB investigation: NTSBCHI04LA283
Reported as: Cessna 172M
Reported engine: Lycoming O320E2D
Fatal injuries: 0
Pilot’s flight hours: 5,000 total850 in this make and model60 in the last 90 days

N80237Registration cancelled May 13, 2013 · Cessna 172MS/N 17266465 · Built 1975 Airframe modelCessna 172M Engine modelLycoming 0-320 seriesReciprocating

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

(-23) #4 Rod bushing eroded away, clearance allowed shock loads to damage the piston. Piston fractured, released wrist pin. Rod and wrist pin cycled in cylinder without sufficient clearance. Pushed cylinder loose from case. Case fractured, loose rod damaged case and pieces locked up the engine. Aircraft impacted the ground in a right wing low attitude.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) #4 ROD BUSHING ERODED AWAY, CLEARANCE ALLOWED SHOCK LOADS TO DAMAGE THE PISTON. PISTON FRACTURED, RELEASED WRIST PIN. ROD AND WRIST PIN CYCLED IN CYLINDER WITHOUT SUFFICIENT CLEARANCE. PUSHED CYLINDER LOOSE FROM CASE. CASE FRACTURED, LOOSE ROD DAMAGED CASE AND PIECES LOCKED UP THE ENGINE. AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE GROUND IN A RIGHT WING LOW ATTITUDE.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB CHI04LA283Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportHoustonia, MOThe fatigue failure of the piston end of the connecting rod and the pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control during the forced landing.Sep 18, 2004 · Substantial damage