# Incident 20101224055069I: Columbia Ai LC41-550FG, Millsap, TX, December 24, 2010

- Type: FAA incident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: December 24, 2010, 14:15 local time
- Place: Millsap, TX
- Damage: Minor damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 32.7036° N, 97.9900° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.7036&lon=-97.9900&mi=10
- Aircraft: N921DZ, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N921DZ) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Columbia Aircraft Mfg LC41-550FG (registry code 5150011, https://openairdocs.org/model/columbia-aircraft-mfg-lc41-550fg) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental TSIO-550-C (registry code 17246, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-550-c) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: COLUMBIA AI LC41-550FG
- Reported engine: CONT MOTOR TSIO-550-C
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 625 total, 350 in this make and model, 15 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN11IA146](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11IA146) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20101224055069I

## Narrative

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

MR. CHRISTIE'S AIRPLANE (N921DZ) WAS RETURNED TO SERVICE AFTER MAINTENANCE ON 12/22/10. MR. CHRISTIE FLEW HIS AIRCRAFT FROM VAN BORTEL'S AT ARLINGTON, TX (WHERE THE MAINTENANCE WAS PERFORMED) TO CLEBURNE MUNICIPAL AIRPORT FOR FUEL AND THEN ON TO HIS HOME AIRFIELD, BOURLAND FIELD (50F).  ON 12/23/10, WHILE PREPARING FOR HIS TRIP TO DEER VALLEY, ARIZONA (DVT) MR. CHRISTIE ADDED ONE QUART OF OIL TO THE ENGINE AND CALLED THE MECHANIC WHO WORKED ON HIS AIRCRAFT AND ASKED IF THE MECHANIC HAD SERVICED THE ENGINE OIL. THE MECHANIC REPORTEDLY SAID HE COULD NOT REMEMBER DOING SO.  ON 12/24/10, MR. CHRISTIE DEPARTED 50F ON AN IFR FLIGHT TO DVT. WHILE CLIMBING FROM 6,000 FEET TO 16,000 FEET, MR. CHRISTIE NOTICED A SMELL OF BURNING OIL, THE CLIMB RATE HAD DIMINISHED, THE MANIFOLD PRESSURE WAS LOW AND THAT THE ENGINE OIL PRESSURE HAD DROPPED FROM ITS NORMAL RANGE OF 45 PSI TO APPROXIMATELY 8 PSI.  MR. CHRISTIE REQUESTED A DESCENT AND VECTORS FOR MINERAL WELLS AIRPORT (MWL). AT 3,000 FEET HE WAS DIRECTED BY ATC TO LEVEL OFF, WHEN HE ADDED POWER TO DO SO, THE ENGINE QUIT. AT THIS TIME, MR. CHRISTIE TOLD ATC THAT HE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO REACH MWL AND HE DECLARED AN EMERGENCY. HIS AIRSPEED WAS DECREASING SO HE DISCONNECTED THE AUTOPILOT WHILE STILL IFR AND DESCENDED TO  VFR CONDITIONS. MR. CHRISTIE LANDED IN A PASTURE BREAKING THE NOSE GEAR OFF AND DAMAGING THE PROPELLER, WITH NO OTHER APPARENT DAMAGE NOR INJURIES TO HIMSELF.

## 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 CEN11IA146](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11IA146), Dec 24, 2010: Columbia LC41 (N921DZ), Milsap, TX, incident, minor damage. Probable cause: A total loss of engine power in flight due to a loss of engine oil for reasons that could not be determined during a postaccident teardown examination of the engine.

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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