# Accident 20221221019619A: Cessna 172F, Auburn Hills, MI, December 21, 2022

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: December 21, 2022, 14:47 local time
- Place: Auburn Hills, MI
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 42.6711° N, 83.2205° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.6711&lon=-83.2205&mi=10
- Aircraft: N8768U, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8768U) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 172F (registry code 2072414, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172f) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental 0-300 series (registry code 17022, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-300-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172F
- Reported engine: CONT MOTOR 0-300 SER
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Airline transport, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 3,929 total, 421 in this make and model, 29 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN23LA067](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23LA067) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20221221019619A

## Narrative

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

THE AIRMEN HAD CHANGED HIS OWN OIL TO ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ 100 50 WEIGHT SUMMER OIL, 3 MONTHS PRIOR. HE WAS UNFAMILAR WITH COLD WEATHER OPERATIONS, HAVING BEEN BASED IN LAS VEGAS. UPON STARTING THE AIRCRAFT WITHOUT PREHEAT IN BELOW 32F WEATHER, THE OIL STARTED TO LEAK FROM THE OIL COOLER. EVIDENCE OF OIL LEAKAGE WAS DISCOVERED AT TE POINT WHERE THE AIRCRAFT WAS STARTED AND CONTINUED TO THE DEPARTURE RUNWAY. 10 MINUTES AFTER DEPARTING THE AIRPORT THE ENGINE SUFFERED A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE. THE AIRMAN HAD TO RESPOND TO THE ENGINE FAILURE WITH AN OFF-FIELD EMERGENCY LANDING. DURING THE EMERGENCY LANDING THE AIRCRAFT STUCK A TREE, LEADING TO SIGNIFCANT DAMAGE TO THE AIRCRAFT.

## 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 CEN23LA067](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23LA067), Dec 21, 2022: Cessna 172F (N8768U), Auburn Hills, MI, substantial damage. Probable cause: The catastrophic engine failure due to lack of oil lubrication, which resulted from the pilot’s failure to follow the airplane and engine manufacturers’ guidance for cold weather operation.

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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