# NTSB ATL03LA117: Stinson 108-3, N6088M, Hendersonville, TN, July 3, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 3, 2003, 15:00 UTC - Place: Hendersonville, TN - Coordinates: 36.380554, -86.413887 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.3806&lon=-86.4139&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor - Status: Completed, report November 25, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Nasdhville FSDO-03, Nashville FSDO-03 - NTSB case key (mKey): 57390 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL03LA117 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/57390/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL03LA117 ## Probable cause The total loss of engine power due to loss of oil pressure for undetermined reasons, resulting in a forced landing and nose over on none suitable terrain. ## 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 - fluid,oil - starvation (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - Nose over, landing - roll - terrain condition - ground - terrain condition - none suitable ## Analysis The pilot stated he was in cruise flight at 3,500 feet, about 17 miles from the destination airport when he noticed a slight decrease in engine rpm and oil pressure. He started his descent to his destination airport and started looking for a forced landing area. The rpm continued to decrease, and he elected to make a forced landing to a grassy field. He made a base leg, turned final, and lowered the flaps to the full down position. On touchdown the landing gear collided with ruts that he did not see from the air, and the airplane nosed over. Disassembly of the engine assembly showed three cylinders and three connecting rods had failed. The crankshaft journals were heavily scored and burned. Portions of two connecting rod bolts were recovered from the oil sump. The bolts had severe necking and had plasticized. The oil sump was removed to access the oil pump and lubrication pick-up screen. The screen was free of significant amounts of debris. The oil pump was removed and showed no signs of failure or contamination that would have caused failure to properly supply oil to the engine. The pressure regulator and pressure relief valve were examined and there was no evidence that either had failed. It could not be determined why the engine ceased oiling. ## Factual narrative On July 3, 2003, at 1500 central daylight time, a Stinson 108-3, N6088M, registered to a private owner, operating as a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, lost engine power in cruise flight. The pilot made a forced landing in the vicinity of Hendersonville, Tennessee, and the airplane nosed over during landing roll. The airplane sustained substantial damage. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The commercial pilot reported serious injuries, and the passenger reported minor injuries. The flight originated from Conway, Arkansas, on July 3, 2003, at 1215. The pilot stated he was in cruise flight at 3,500 feet, about 17 miles from the destination airport when he noticed a slight decrease in engine rpm and oil pressure. He started his descent to his destination airport and started looking for a forced landing area. The rpm continued to decrease, and he elected to make a forced landing to a grassy field. He made a base leg, turned final, and lowered the flaps to the full down position. On touchdown the landing gear collided with ruts that he did not see from the air, and the airplane nosed over. After exiting the airplane he observed the vertical fin was crushed and both wings had been damaged. Disassembly of the engine assembly showed three cylinders and three connecting rods had failed. The crankshaft journals of the failed connecting rods were heavily scored and burned. Portions of two connecting rod bolts were recovered from the oil sump. The bolts had severe necking and had plasticized. The oil sump was removed, and the oil pick-up screen was free of significant amounts of debris. The oil pump was removed and showed no signs of failure or contamination. The pressure regulator and pressure relief valve were examined and there was no evidence that either had failed. It could not be determined why the engine ceased oiling. Review of the airplane logbooks revealed the engine was overhauled on November 21, 2000, at tachometer time 2501.7. The tachometer was changed on May 15, 2003, at tachometer time 2678.4, and time since major overhaul was 176.7 hours. The tachometer at the accident site was 18.9 hours. The total time since major overhaul was 195.6 hours, and the total engine time is 2697.9 hours. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6088M](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6088M-2006-04-19), registration cancelled 2006-04-19, S/N 108-4088, built 1947 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Stinson 108-3 - Registry model: [Stinson 108-3](https://openairdocs.org/model/stinson-108-3) (registry code 9230408) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Franklin 6A4165 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/franklin-6a4165-series) (registry code 27025, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 4088 - Airframe hours: 2697 - Engines: Franklin 6A4-165-B4 165 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Ronald R. Edwards - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 13, 2003, 18 hours before - Departed: M03, Conway, AR - Destination: M33, Gallatin, TN ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 56; injuries: serious; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review November 20, 2002; seat: left; flight hours: 1,111 total, 223 in this make and model, 949 as pilot in command, 18 in the last 90 days, 14 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 230° at 4 knots - Visibility: 9 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 8,000 ft broken - Temperature: 86 °F, dew point 68 °F - Altimeter: 29.94 inHg - Observed at: BNA, 12 nm away ## 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 20030703013189A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030703013189A), Jul 3, 2003: Univar 1083, Hendersonville, TN, Substantial damage. (-23) During the investigation at the scene, the pilot returned from the hospital to retrieve some personal items. He stated that a loss of power and a loss of… 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.