20151008017859A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Cessna 177RG · Red Oak, IA · October 8, 2015

Date: October 8, 2015 · 13:30 local
Place: Red Oak, IA
Phase of flight: Climb
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N1542H
NTSB investigation: NTSBCEN16LA032
Reported as: Cessna 177RG
Reported engine: Lycoming IO-360
People aboard: 2
Fatal injuries: 0
Other injuries: 0
Pilot’s certificate: Private pilot
Pilot’s flight hours: 620 total

N1542HRegistered now · Cessna 177RGS/N 177RG0716 · Built 1975 Airframe modelCessna 177RG Engine modelLycoming IO-360-A1B6DReciprocating

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

Shortly after departing Red Oak, IA (rdk) the pilot reported that the aircraft began to vibrate and the engine fuel flow was diminishing rapidly. The pilot turned the aircraft back toward rdk with minimal power and losing altitude. The aircraft touched down approximately 6 miles southwest of rdk in a bean field. During the landing rollout the aircraft went approximately 200 feet into a standing field of corn and came to a stop facing a field terrace.

As the FAA filed it

SHORTLY AFTER DEPARTING RED OAK, IA (RDK) THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN TO VIBRATE AND THE ENGINE FUEL FLOW WAS DIMINISHING RAPIDLY. THE PILOT TURNED THE AIRCRAFT BACK TOWARD RDK WITH MINIMAL POWER AND LOSING ALTITUDE. THE AIRCRAFT TOUCHED DOWN APPROXIMATELY 6 MILES SOUTHWEST OF RDK IN A BEAN FIELD. DURING THE LANDING ROLLOUT THE AIRCRAFT WENT APPROXIMATELY 200 FEET INTO A STANDING FIELD OF CORN AND CAME TO A STOP FACING A FIELD TERRACE.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB CEN16LA032Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportRed Oak, IAThe improper torque of the engine’s No. 3 cylinder intake pipe bolts, which resulted in the separation of the pipe and a partial loss of engine power.Oct 8, 2015 · Substantial damage