# NTSB ATL96LA093: Cessna 177RG, N2186Q, Lake Placid, FL, June 16, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 16, 1996, 16:00 local (20:00 UTC) - Place: Lake Placid, FL - Coordinates: 27.510671, -81.549011 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.5107&lon=-81.5490&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 18, 1997 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 3734 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL96LA093 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/3734/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL96LA093 ## Probable cause maintenance personnel's failure to properly torque the cylinder installation bolts. ## 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 - engine assembly,cylinder - undertorqued (cause) - maintenance,overhaul,major - improper, other maintenance personnel (cause) - engine assembly,cylinder - separation - Fire, emergency descent/landing - Forced landing, descent - emergency - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - object - fence ## Analysis One hour into the flight, the pilot advised the air traffic controller of the separation of the number 2 cylinder from the engine and a subsequent engine fire. The pilot also requested radar vectors to the nearest airport. The flight was cleared to an airport 12 miles north. The pilot shut down the engine, and the fire went out. The pilot made a forced landing in a pasture short of the airport. On landing roll the airplane collided with two fences. The subsequent engine examination disclosed severe fretting on the crankcase parting surfaces at the number two bearing saddle and dowels. The surface fretting observed in this crankcase is typical of conditions associated with a loss of torque on mating surfaces. According to the operator, the engine was overhauled 291 flight hours before this flight. ## Factual narrative On June 16, 1996, at 1600 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 177RG, N2186Q, collided with a fence a during landing roll after a forced landing 15 miles south of Lake Placid, FL. The personal flight was conducted under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91, and an instrument flight plan was activated. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The airplane sustained substantial damage, and the private pilot nor the passenger sustained any injuries. The flight departed Tamiami Airport Tamiami, Florida enroute to Tallahassee, Florida, at 1500 hours. According to the pilot, approximately ten minutes into the flight, he advised the Miami air traffic controller of an engine fire and requested vectors to the nearest airport. The pilot was cleared to Placid Lakes airport 12 miles north of his position. The pilot shut down the engine, and the fire went out. The pilot made a forced landing in a pasture short of the airport. On landing roll the airplane collided with two fences. The examination of the engine revealed that the number two cylinder separated from the assembly. The subsequent engine examination disclosed severe fretting on the crankcase parting surfaces at the number two bearing saddle and dowels. The surface fretting observed in this case is typical of conditions associated with a loss of torque on mating surfaces. According to the operator, the engine was overhauled 291 flight hours before this flight. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2186Q](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2186Q), registered now, S/N 177RG0586 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 177RG - Registry model: [Cessna 177RG](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-177rg) (registry code 2073709) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-360-A1B6D](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-360-a1b6d) (registry code 41593, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 177RG0586 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Fire: In-Flight - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Winfred Lee Meyers - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 19, 1996, 25 hours before - Departed: TMB, TAMIAMI, FL - Destination: TLH, TALLAHASSEE, FL - Flight plan: IFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 54; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 503 total, 343 in this make and model, 447 as pilot in command, 28 in the last 90 days, 21 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 290° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 15,000 ft broken - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 73 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: FMY, 40 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 19960616016599A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960616016599A), Jun 16, 1996: Cessna 177RG, Lake Placid, FL, Substantial damage. Reported engine fire on climb. Got vectors to 8X6. Shut down. Fire went out. Landed pasture. NR2 cylinder separated 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.