# Accident 20050303003299A: Cessna T41B, Sparta, TN, March 3, 2005

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 3, 2005, 16:15 local time
- Place: Sparta, TN
- Airport: Sparta-White County Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 36.0561° N, 85.5306° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.0561&lon=-85.5306&mi=10
- Aircraft: N14449, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N14449-2017-07-20) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna T-41B (registry code 2072417, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-t-41b) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA T41B
- Reported engine: CONT IO360DB
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 500 total, 298 in this make and model, 2 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ATL05TA055](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL05TA055) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050303003299A

## Narrative

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

(-23) AIRCRAFT WAS ON A RE-POSITIONING FLIGHT FROM NASHVILLE, TN TO SPARTA, TN. THIS SHORT FLIGHT (HALF HOUR) CONCLUDED IN A FIELD NEXT TO THE SPARTA, TN AIRPORT NEAR THE END OF THE SOUTH RUNWAY. THE PILOT EXPERIENCED AN IN FLIGHT ENGINE FAILURE. SMOKE FILLED THE COCKPIT AND WAS RELEASED BY OPENING AIRCRAFT PASSENGER WINDOW. ENGINE OIL COVERED THE WINDSHIELD AND THE ENGINE COMPLETELY STOPPED. PILOT ELECTED TO LAND IN A HAY FIELD JUST SHORT OF THE SPARTA, TN AIRPORT. AIRCRAFT WHEELS SUNK IN MUD AND FLIPPED INVERTED. ELT ACTIVATED. PILOT KICKED OUT REAR PASSENGER WINDOW AND EXITED AIRCRAFT. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT NUMBER 2 PISTON ROD WAS BROKE AND EXITED CRANK CASE HALF BETWEEN NUMBER TWO AND 4 CYLINDERS. ENGINE AS OF THIS DATE SENT TO MANUFACTURER FOR INSPECTION.

## 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 ATL05TA055](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL05TA055), Mar 3, 2005: Cessna T-41B (N14449), Sparta, TN, substantial damage. Probable cause: Improper installation of the timing reference plug by other maintenance personnel, which resulted in oil starvation, and the loss of engine power.

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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