# Incident 20170731016799I: Columbia Aircraft Mfg LC41-550FG, Chandler, AZ, July 31, 2017

- Type: FAA incident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 31, 2017, 18:20 local time
- Place: Chandler, AZ
- Damage: Minor damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 33.1542° N, 111.9269° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.1542&lon=-111.9269&mi=10
- Aircraft: N8725, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8725) (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 AIRCRAFT MFG LC41-550FG
- Reported engine: CONT MOTOR TSIO-550-C
- People aboard: 4
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 1,215 total, 288 in this make and model, 79 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR17IA173](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR17IA173) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170731016799I

## Narrative

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

07/31/2017 1820MST; 0120Z, N8725, COLUMBIA 400 LC41-550FG AIRCRAFT LOST ENGINE POWER, DECLARED AND EMERGENCY AND MADE A FORCED LANDING IN A FARM FIELD ABOUT 6 MILES SOUTH OF (CHD) CHANDLER AIRPORT. 4-POB, 0-INJURIES, MINOR-DAMAGE.  ENGINE THREW ROD WHICH CRACKED A HOLE IN THE CASE AND THE ENGINE LOST OIL.  AT THE TEARDOWN IT WAS NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A SMALL DENT ON THE OIL PUMP INTERNAL TO THE ENGINE WHICH LED TO THE INTERNAL BLOCKAGE OF OIL CAUSING THE FAILURE OF THE ENGINE OVERALL.  INVESTIGATION CONTINUES INTO WHETHER THAT DENT WAS THE INITIAL CAUSE OF ENGINE FAILURE.  AMENDMENT WILL BE APPLIED WHEN AVAILABLE.  THE OPERATION OF THE AIRCRAFT PLAYED NO BARING INTO THE CAUSE OF THE INCIDENT.

## 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 WPR17IA173](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR17IA173), Aug 1, 2017: Columbia Aircraft Mfg LC41 550FG (N8725), Chandler, AZ, incident, minor damage. Probable cause: The over-tensioning of the accessory belt, which resulted in damage to the starter adapter and subsequent loss of oil that led to oil starvation and catastrophic engine failure.

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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