# Incident 20051114028189I: Lancar LANCAIRIVPT, Harlowton, MT, November 14, 2005

- Type: FAA incident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: November 14, 2005, 09:05 local time
- Place: Harlowton, MT
- Phase of flight: Normal Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 46.4368° N, 109.8345° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Harlowton, MT, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.4368&lon=-109.8345&mi=10
- Aircraft: N83RR (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: LANCAR LANCAIRIVPT
- Reported engine: WALTER M601E11
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 3,500 total, 75 in this make and model, 80 in the last 90 days
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20051114028189I

## Narrative

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

(-23) ON 11/14/05 AT APPROXIMATELY 0900 MDT, AIRCRAFT N83RR, A LANCE AIR IV-P, DEPARTED HELENA, MONTANA (HLN) WITH AN IFR FLIGHT PLAN ENROUTE TO GARY INDIANA (GYY), WITH ONLY THE PILOT ON BOARD. ABOUT 15 TO 20 MINUTES INTO THE FLIGHT, CRUISING AT FL250, THE PILOT NOTICED THE ENGINE OIL PRESSURE STARTED TO DROP. THE PILOT SLOWLY BROUGHT THE ENGINE POWER BACK TO IDLE AND FEATHERED THE PROPELLER. HE DECLARED AN EMERGENCY AND WAS CLEARED TO DESCEND AND LAND AT WHEATLAND COUNTY AIRPORT, HARLOWTON, MONTANA (HWQ). THE AIRCRAFT LANDED WITHOUT INCIDENT. THE WALTER ENGINE WAS DISASSEMBLED AND INSPECTED BY A WALTER TECHNICIAN. INVESTIGATION FOUND THAT THE FRONT OIL SCAVENGE HAD FAILED. THE FAILURE OF THE PUMP WAS CAUSED BY A PIECE OF MAGNESIUM LEFT OVER FROM THE CASTING OR MACHINING PROCESS THAT APPARENTLY DIDN'T GET CLEANED OUT OF THE FRONT GEARBOX PRIOR TO ASSEMBLY. IT APPEARS THAT THE PIECE OF METAL LODGED IN THE SCAVENGE PUMP CAUSING IT TO FAIL. WHEN THE PUMP FAILED, THE ENGINE OIL ACCUMULATED IN THE FRONT GEARBOX, THEREBY STARVING THE REAR GEARBOX OF ENGINE OIL. THE ENGINE'S PRIMARY OIL PUMP IS DRIVEN FROM THE REAR GEARBOX, SO AS THE OIL ACCUMULATED UP FRONT, THERE WAS MINIMAL OIL LEFT TO CIRCULATE THROUGH THE PRIMARY OIL PUMP RESULTING IN LOSS OF OIL PRESSURE. A FAA FORM 8010-4 MALFUNCTION OR DEFECT REPORT WILL BE SUBMITTED BY THE ENGINE MANUFACTURER. THIS INCIDENT IS CONSIDERED CLOSED.

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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