# Accident 20200227002099A: Cessna 170A, Baker City, OR, February 27, 2020

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: February 27, 2020, 15:20 local time
- Place: Baker City, OR
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 44.7306° N, 117.8389° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.7306&lon=-117.8389&mi=10
- Aircraft: N5478C, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5478C-2022-07-30) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 170A (registry code 2072304, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-170a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental C145 series (registry code 17012, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c145-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 170A
- Reported engine: CONT MOTOR C145 SERIES
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 2,500 total, 1,000 in this make and model, 8 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR20LA097](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR20LA097) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200227002099A

## Narrative

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

ON THE AFTERNOON OF FEBRUARY 27, 2020, THE PILOT OF CESSNA 170A N5487C DEPARTED THE AIRPORT AT BAKER CITY, OR (BKR) WITH ONE PASSENGER PLANNING A SHORT LOCAL FLIGHT TO WARM UP HIS ENGINE OIL PRIOR TO AN OIL CHANGE.  AFTER ABOUT 20 MINUTES OF FLIGHT AND WHILE ABOUT 7 SM SOUTH OF THE BKE AIRPORT, THE ENGINE STARTED RUNNING ROUGH AND THE PILOT NOTICED THE OIL PRESSURE HAD DECREASED TO ?0?.  MAXIMUM ENGINE SPEED ATTAINABLE WAS 2,200 RPM AND THE PILOT WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN ALTITUDE, BUT DUE TO THE PRESENCE OF THE CITY OF BAKER BETWEEN HIM AND THE AIRPORT AND HIS LACK OF CONFIDENCE IN CONTINUED ENGINE OPERATION HE ELECTED TO MAKE A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING IN AN UNIMPROVED GRASS/HAY FIELD.  DURING THE LANDING THE OUTER LEFT WING OF THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK AN OBJECT DAMAGING THE FRONT SPAR.  AFTER LANDING THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO TAXI THE AIRCRAFT OUT OF THE MIDDLE OF THE FIELD AND CLOSER TO A FARMHOUSE.  DURING THAT TAXI ONE OF HIS MAIN WHEELS DROPPED INTO AN IRRIGATION DITCH CAUSING A PROP STRIKE.  EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED A CRACKED CRANKCASE.

## 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 WPR20LA097](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR20LA097), Feb 27, 2020: Cessna 170 (N5478C), Baker City, OR, substantial damage. Probable cause: The failure of the No. 2 connecting rod bearing as a result of oil starvation due to a contaminated oil filter screen.

## Other reports on N5478C (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Accident 19830815040529A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830815040529A), Aug 15, 1983: Cessna 170A (N5478C), Ramona, CA, Substantial damage. Wind shifted on touchdown. Pilot lost control. Ground looped off the runway collapsing the left main gear.

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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