# Incident 20061126028249I: Cessna R172K, Prescott, AZ, November 26, 2006

- Type: FAA incident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: November 26, 2006, 10:00 local time
- Place: Prescott, AZ
- Airport: Ernest A Love Field
- Phase of flight: Normal Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 34.5400° N, 112.4685° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Prescott, AZ, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.5400&lon=-112.4685&mi=10
- Aircraft: N1501V, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1501V) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna R172K (registry code 2072431, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-r172k) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental IO-360 series (registry code 17025, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-360-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA R172K
- Reported engine: CONT IO360*
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 529 total, 100 in this make and model, 30 in the last 90 days
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20061126028249I

## Narrative

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

(-23) PILOT STATEMENT: ON SUNDAY NOV. 26, 2006 AFTER DEPARTING BLYTHE, CA., ENROUTE TO PAGE, AZ., FOR REFUELING, AND APPROXIMATELY 23.5 KM NORTHWEST OF PRESCOTT, AZ., I NOTICED A SMALL AMOUNT OF SMOKE COMING FROM THE TOP OF THE ENGINE COWLING OF THE CESSNA 172 (N1501V) I WAS FLYING. AN IMMEDIATE DECISION WAS MADE TO PROCEED DIRECTLY TO THE NEAREST AIRPORT TO INVESTIGATE THE CAUSE OF THE SMOKE. ALL GAUGES INDICATED NORMAL AIRCRAFT FUNCTIONS AT THIS TIME. I CONTACTED PRESCOTT TOWER AT ABOUT 16.5 MILES NORTHWEST OF THE FIELD AND ADVISED THEM OF THE SITUATION. AT THIS TIME I WAS OBSERVING FLUCTUATIONS IN ENGINE OIL PRESSURE. READINGS WERE STILL WITHIN THE GREEN ZONE ON THE GAUGE BUT NOT STEADY. SHORTLY AFTER MY FIRST CONTACT WITH THE TOWER THE PROP CYCLED ONE TIME FURTHER INDICATING A LOSS OF OIL PRESSURE. MAINTAINING REDUCED ENGINE POWER, I WAS ABLE TO LAND SAFELY AT PRESCOTT, AZ., WITHOUT INCIDENT. UPON PRELIMINARY INSPECTION ON THE GROUND I FOUND THE ENGINE TO BE TURNABLE BY HAND BUT LACKED ANY BEARING TOLERANCE NORMALLY FELT WHILE TURNING A SIMILAR KNOW GOOD ENGINE. UPON REMOVING THE UPPER ENGINE COWLING FOR A PRELIMINARY INSPECTION LARGE AMOUNTS OF OIL COVERED THE REAR LEFT HAND AREA OF THE ENGINE AND FIREWALL AREA. FURTHER INSPECTION INDICATED A POSSIBLE FAILURE OF THE ENGINE OIL COOLER. EXACT CAUSE OF OIL LOSS WILL BE DETERMINED UPON ENGINE DISSASSEMBLY AND INSPECTION FOR POSSIBLE REPAIR.

## Other reports on N1501V (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Incident 19880929058719I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880929058719I), Sep 29, 1988: Cessna R172K (N1501V), Chippewa Falls, WI, Minor damage. Forced landing in field due to engine failure. Crankshaft and alternator shaft broken. Cam shaft damaged.

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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