# NTSB ANC98LA041: Cessna 170B, N2692D, Kenai, AK, April 25, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 24, 1998, 21:40 local (Apr 25, 1998, 05:40 UTC) - Place: Kenai, AK - Coordinates: 60.659255, -150.900909 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=60.6593&lon=-150.9009&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 15, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 3133 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC98LA041 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/3133/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC98LA041 ## Probable cause A failure of the number six cylinder rod bearing and connecting rod cap for undetermined reasons. Factors in the accident were snow covered terrain that was unsuitable for a forced landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - mech failure/malf, cruise - engine assembly,bearing - failure (cause) - engine assembly,connecting rod cap - failure (cause) - reason for occurrence undetermined - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, emergency descent/landing - terrain condition - snow covered (contributing factor) - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) - Nose over, landing - roll ## Analysis The pilot and a passenger were in cruise flight in a tailwheel equipped airplane. About one hour after departure, the engine oil pressure began to decrease to below the normal operating range. The pilot began a climb to 3,500 feet mean sea level. The engine then began to run rough, and the pilot shut the engine off. The pilot performed an emergency landing in a small open area that had previously been used as a landing area. The airplane touched down in snow covered terrain, and then nosed over. The airplane received damage to the left wing spar, the rudder, and the leading edge of both wings. An examination of the airplane engine revealed the number six piston connecting rod bearing, and the connecting rod cap, were destroyed. The number six crankshaft rod bearing journal was blackened and battered. ## Factual narrative On April 24, 1998, about 2140 Alaska daylight time, a tundra tire equipped Cessna 170B airplane, N2692D, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing, about 44 miles west of Kenai, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) cross-country personal flight when the accident occurred. The airplane was registered to, and operated by the pilot. The certificated private pilot, and the sole passenger, were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight originated from a remote airstrip about 2040. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), on April 27, 1998, at 0800, the pilot reported he departed Keys Point at Lake Clark, Alaska, and was flying through Lake Clark Pass. While in cruise flight, the oil pressure began to decrease to below the normal operating range. The pilot began a climb to 3,500 feet mean sea level. The engine then began to run rough, and the pilot shut the engine off. He made an emergency landing in a small open area. The airplane touched down in snow covered terrain, and then nosed over. The airplane received damage to the left wing spar, the rudder, and the leading edge of both wings. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) airworthiness inspector, Anchorage Flight Standards District Office (FSDO), Anchorage, Alaska, examined the airplane engine on April 29, 1998. The inspector reported the number six piston connecting rod bearing was destroyed. The connecting rod cap was also destroyed. The number six crankshaft rod bearing journal was blackened and battered. The pilot reported the engine had accrued a total time of 4,417.28 hours. It had accrued 1,274.18 hours since an engine overhaul. The most recent inspection was an annual inspection conducted on November 28, 1997, 13.65 hours before the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2692D](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2692D), registered now, S/N 20844, built 1952 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 170B - Registry model: [Cessna 170B](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-170b) (registry code 2072306) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental C145 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c145-series) (registry code 17012, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 20844 - Airframe hours: 4417 - Engines: Continental O-300 145 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Gene C. Bock - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 28, 1997, 14 hours before - Departed: KEYS POINT, AK - Destination: ENA, KENAI, AK ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 44; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 375 total, 157 in this make and model, 326 as pilot in command, 12 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 270° at 15 knots - Visibility: 50 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 45 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19980424007689A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980424007689A), Apr 24, 1998: Cessna 170B, Kenai, AK, Substantial damage. (.4)The pilot and a passenger were in cruise flight in a tailwheel equipped airplane. About one hour after departure, the engine oil pressure began to decrease… ## Other investigations on N2692D (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 ANC22LA034](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC22LA034), May 21, 2022: Cessna 170B (N2692D), Big Lake, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed during final approach which resulted in the airplane exceeding its critical angle of attack and a subsequent aerodynamic stall at too low of an… 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.