# Accident 20161004019869A: Cessna 172K, Wilmont, WI, October 4, 2016

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: October 4, 2016, 15:11 local time
- Place: Wilmont, WI
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 42.5117° N, 88.2089° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.5117&lon=-88.2089&mi=10
- Aircraft: N46377, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N46377-2018-09-04) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 172K (registry code 2072430, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172k) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-320 series (registry code 41508, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172K
- Reported engine: LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 1,142 total, 900 in this make and model, 1 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN17LA006](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN17LA006) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20161004019869A

## Narrative

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

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.

## 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 CEN17LA006](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN17LA006), Oct 4, 2016: Cessna 172K (N46377), Wilmot, WI, substantial damage. Probable cause: A 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…

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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