OpenAirDocs.org

20161004019869A

Accident · Substantial damage
Open the Markdown

FAA accident report · Cessna 172K · Wilmont, WI · October 4, 2016

FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal

© OpenStreetMap
Date
October 4, 2016 · 15:11 local
Place
Wilmont, WI
Phase of flight
Cruise/Level Flight
Operating rules
General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage
Substantial damage
Aircraft
N46377
NTSB investigation
NTSBCEN17LA006
Reported as
Cessna 172K
Reported engine
Lycoming 0-320 series
People aboard
1
Fatal injuries
0
Other injuries
0
Pilot’s certificate
Commercial pilot
Pilot’s flight hours
1,142 total900 in this make and model1 in the last 90 days
N46377Registration cancelled Sep 4, 2018 · Cessna 172KS/N 17257226 · Built 1968Airframe modelCessna 172KEngine modelLycoming 0-320 seriesReciprocating

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.

On October 04, 2016 N46377 a Cessna 172 (CE-172) was en route from burlington, WI (kbuu) to chicago executive airport (kpwk) prospect heights, IL at 2,200 feet when the engine started to run rough. The pilot pulled the carb heat on and switched fuel tanks from the both position to the right position. The pilot diverted to Wilmont, WI airport (5K6), while on downwind for runway 21 the engine roughness increased. The pilot was high on final and overshot the runway. He then turn to the west and added full power to conduct a go around but the engine failed and the aircraft descended into a corn field. The pilot secured the aircraft and walked to the road. The pilot was the only passenger on board the aircraft and had no injuries.

Inspection of the aircraft revealed that the wrist pin cap disintegrated possibly due to wear against the cylinder wall (there was evidence of minor corrosion on the cylinder walls) or the piston breaking. This material plugged the oil filter screen and caused oil starvation to the connecting rod bearings which failed, disabling the engine.

As the FAA filed it

ON OCTOBER 04, 2016 N46377 A CESSNA 172 (CE-172) WAS EN ROUTE FROM BURLINGTON, WI (KBUU) TO CHICAGO EXECUTIVE AIRPORT (KPWK) PROSPECT HEIGHTS, IL AT 2,200 FEET WHEN THE ENGINE STARTED TO RUN ROUGH. THE PILOT PULLED THE CARB HEAT ON AND SWITCHED FUEL TANKS FROM THE BOTH POSITION TO THE RIGHT POSITION. THE PILOT DIVERTED TO WILMONT, WI AIRPORT (5K6), WHILE ON DOWNWIND FOR RUNWAY 21 THE ENGINE ROUGHNESS INCREASED. THE PILOT WAS HIGH ON FINAL AND OVERSHOT THE RUNWAY. HE THEN TURN TO THE WEST AND ADDED FULL POWER TO CONDUCT A GO AROUND BUT THE ENGINE FAILED AND THE AIRCRAFT DESCENDED INTO A CORN FIELD. THE PILOT SECURED THE AIRCRAFT AND WALKED TO THE ROAD. THE PILOT WAS THE ONLY PASSENGER ON BOARD THE AIRCRAFT AND HAD NO INJURIES.

INSPECTION OF THE AIRCRAFT REVEALED THAT THE WRIST PIN CAP DISINTEGRATED POSSIBLY DUE TO WEAR AGAINST THE CYLINDER WALL (THERE WAS EVIDENCE OF MINOR CORROSION ON THE CYLINDER WALLS) OR THE PISTON BREAKING. THIS MATERIAL PLUGGED THE OIL FILTER SCREEN AND CAUSED OIL STARVATION TO THE CONNECTING ROD BEARINGS WHICH FAILED, DISABLING THE ENGINE.

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 CEN17LA006Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportWilmot, WIA failure of the No. 1 piston pin plug due to corrosion in the cylinder barrel, which resulted in oil contamination, oil starvation to the crankshaft connecting rod bearings, and a subsequent partial loss of engine power.Oct 4, 2016 · Substantial damage