What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
On April 29,2024, the pilot departed ksgj towards 28J with the intention of conducting a practice approach at 28J. While in cruise at approximately 2000 ft, the pilot began to climb to 3,000' for an RNAV9 practice approach at 28J. The pilot reported that as soon as he attempted the climb, he noticed significant engine roughness with the lack of any climb performance. He stated he immediately checked the engine gauges and the oil pressure gauge was at the left red tick mark on the dial, indicating low oil pressure. The approach was terminated and a call on the 28J CTAF frequency indicating intentions- approximately 10 miles away and intending to land straight-in on runway 09 to a full stop. With throttle full, there was progressively weaker performance and the aircraft was unable to maintain altitude. The pilot landed in a field approximately two miles west of the airport. The aircraft came to a stop in a nose down and a slight left bank. The nose wheel was sheered off. Oil was visible on the bottom of the engine cowling and trailing down the bottom of the fuselage and bottom of the empennage. It was reported the oil was 6-8 quarts prior to takeoff for this approximately 1 hour flight (to this point).
This is a preliminary submission. At this time the technical factor(s) are based on what is known however all information has yet to be gathered. The report will be amended as necessary.
As the FAA filed it
ON APRIL 29,2024, THE PILOT DEPARTED KSGJ TOWARDS 28J WITH THE INTENTION OF CONDUCTING A PRACTICE APPROACH AT 28J. WHILE IN CRUISE AT APPROXIMATELY 2000 FT, THE PILOT BEGAN TO CLIMB TO 3,000' FOR AN RNAV9 PRACTICE APPROACH AT 28J. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT AS SOON AS HE ATTEMPTED THE CLIMB, HE NOTICED SIGNIFICANT ENGINE ROUGHNESS WITH THE LACK OF ANY CLIMB PERFORMANCE. HE STATED HE IMMEDIATELY CHECKED THE ENGINE GAUGES AND THE OIL PRESSURE GAUGE WAS AT THE LEFT RED TICK MARK ON THE DIAL, INDICATING LOW OIL PRESSURE. THE APPROACH WAS TERMINATED AND A CALL ON THE 28J CTAF FREQUENCY INDICATING INTENTIONS- APPROXIMATELY 10 MILES AWAY AND INTENDING TO LAND STRAIGHT-IN ON RUNWAY 09 TO A FULL STOP. WITH THROTTLE FULL, THERE WAS PROGRESSIVELY WEAKER PERFORMANCE AND THE AIRCRAFT WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN ALTITUDE. THE PILOT LANDED IN A FIELD APPROXIMATELY TWO MILES WEST OF THE AIRPORT. THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO A STOP IN A NOSE DOWN AND A SLIGHT LEFT BANK. THE NOSE WHEEL WAS SHEERED OFF. OIL WAS VISIBLE ON THE BOTTOM OF THE ENGINE COWLING AND TRAILING DOWN THE BOTTOM OF THE FUSELAGE AND BOTTOM OF THE EMPENNAGE. IT WAS REPORTED THE OIL WAS 6-8 QUARTS PRIOR TO TAKEOFF FOR THIS APPROXIMATELY 1 HOUR FLIGHT (TO THIS POINT).
THIS IS A PRELIMINARY SUBMISSION. AT THIS TIME THE TECHNICAL FACTOR(S) ARE BASED ON WHAT IS KNOWN HOWEVER ALL INFORMATION HAS YET TO BE GATHERED. THE REPORT WILL BE AMENDED AS NECESSARY.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.