# Accident 20120807017269A: Cessna 177B, Bardstown, KY, August 7, 2012

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 7, 2012, 11:15 local time
- Place: Bardstown, KY
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 38.0386° N, 87.5308° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.0386&lon=-87.5308&mi=10
- Aircraft: N34283, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N34283) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 177B (registry code 2073708, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-177b) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming O&VO-360 series (registry code 41514, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 177B
- Reported engine: LYCOMING O&VO-360 SER
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 2,295 total, 6 in this make and model, 168 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN12LA532](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12LA532) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120807017269A

## Narrative

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

DURING CRUISE FLIGHT IN INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS AT APPROXIMATELY 7,500 MSL, THE ATTITUDE INDICATOR BEGAN TO GIVE ERRONEOUS INDICATIONS THAT THE PILOT DID NOT IMMEDIATELY INTERPRET AS ERRONEOUS. HE RESPONDED TO THE INDICATIONS AND THE AIRCRAFT ENDED UP IN A STEEP NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE LOSING SEVERAL THOUSAND FEET OF ALTITUDE. THE PILOT WAS ABLE TO RECOVER THE AIRCRAFT ONCE OUT OF THE CLOUDS. DURING THE RECOVERY, THE DESIGN LOAD LIMITS OF THE AIRCRAFT WERE EXCEEDED, DUE TO THE HIGH AIRSPEED, RESULTING IN SUBSTANTIAL STRUCTURAL DAMAGE TO THE AIRCRAFT'S WINGS.

## 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 CEN12LA532](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12LA532), Aug 7, 2012: Cessna 177B (N34283), Evansville, IN, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s loss of control due to an inaccurate attitude reference, which was caused by an impending (“in process”) failure of the bearing in the attitude indicator.

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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