# NTSB ATL90LA186: Cessna 172N, N1904V, Stokesdale, NC, September 29, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: September 29, 1990, 15:05 local (19:05 UTC)
- Place: Stokesdale, NC
- Coordinates: 36.229267, -79.98027 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.2293&lon=-79.9803&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 14, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 8286
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL90LA186
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/8286/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL90LA186

## Probable cause

THE FAILURE OF THE ENGINE DRIVEN OIL PUMP WHICH RESULTED IN OIL STARVATION TO THE ENGINE. FACTORS WERE: THE FAA'S FAILURE TO PROVIDE SUFFICIENT STANDARDS FOR AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE COMPLIANCE, AND THE ROUGH 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 - normal
  - lubricating system - failure,total (cause)
  - acft/equip,inadequate compliance determination, faa(other/organization) (contributing factor)
  - insufficient standards/requirements,aircraft, faa(organization) (contributing factor)
  - lubricating system,oil pressure pump - worn (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown
  - terrain condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor)

## Analysis

WHILE CRUISING AT 3500 FEET, THE PILOT EXPERIENCED A PARTIAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. ATTEMPTS TO RESTORE FULL POWER FAILED. HE RADIOED APPROACH CONTROL AND ADVISED THE CONTROLLER OF HIS PROBLEM. HE ALSO REQUESTED RADAR VECTORS TO THE NEAREST AIRPORT FOR AN EMERGENCY LANDING. MOMENTS LATER THE ENGINE QUIT. THE PILOT SELECTED AN EMERGENCY LANDING AREA AND ESTABLISHED AN APPROACH TO A LARGE PASTURE. THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR BROKE OFF AT TOUCHDOWN IN THE ROUGH/UNEVEN PASTURE. EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED A FAILED ENGINE DRIVEN OIL PUMP. THE PUMP HAD A TOTAL OF 3620 HOURS AND 1682 HOURS SINCE LAST OVERHAULED. LYCOMING ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN WHICH INSTRUCTED OWNERS TO REPLACE THE SINTERED-IRON IMPELLERS AT 2000 HOURS OF ENGINE SERVICE. AN FAA AD WAS ALSO ISSUED WHICH ALLOWED AN OWNER TO OPERATE UP TO 4000 HOURS BEFORE REPLACING THE IMPELLERS. THE PROPULSION BRANCH STATED THAT A REVISED AD WOULD BE ISSUED TO CORRECT THE LOOPHOLES WHICH CAUSED THIS ACCIDENT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N1904V](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1904V-1993-04-06), registration cancelled 1993-04-06, S/N 17263787 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172N
- Registry model: [Cessna 172M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172m) (registry code 2072418) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-E2D 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Fire: Unknown
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Martely, James
- Departed: IKB, WILKESBORO, NC
- Destination: TDF, ROXBORO, NC

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 47; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: unknown, unknown; flight hours: 1,599 total, 1,355 in this make and model, 12 in the last 90 days, 12 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 280° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 15,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 48 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: GSO

## 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 19900929045809A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900929045809A), Sep 29, 1990: Cessna 172M, Stokesdale, NC, Substantial damage. Lost oil pressure. Engine seized. Engine oil pump gear teeth failed. AD on replacing gears, misquoted by FAA.

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.

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