- Date
- March 13, 1992, 08:20 local (13:20 UTC)
- Place
- Schellsburg, PA
- Injuries
- 2 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N53385Christen Industries Pitts S2B
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report June 11, 1993
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19920313006229A
- Case key
- 11768
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The total blockage of the oil breather line causing excessive pressure in the engine, resulting in oil leakage and subsequent engine failure.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
While en route to cincinati, OH, approx one hour after takeoff from maytown, PA, the plt and passenger observed oil on the airplane's windscreen. The plt stated he decided to make a precautionary landing, but as soon as he turned towards the alternate airport, he noticed an excessive amount of oil flowing across the airplane's clear floorboard. The plt said he started to look for suitable terrain to make a precautionary ldg, but there was none. At this time, the oil pressure gauge was reading zero. He said he pulled the power back to an idle setting, hoping that if he needed power later, the engine might still be functional. He said he flew the airplane into a small clearing in the wooded terrain. The airplane hit the field, turned 90 degrees in direction, and slid on the right wing for 100 feet, coming to rest approx 250 ft from a treeline. On scene investigations revealed that the oil breather line had accumulated ice near the end of the line and was totally blocked. The oil leak originated from the crankshaft oil seal.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N53385
- Reported as
- Christen Industries Pitts S2B
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 5076
- Airframe hours
- 279
- Engine
- Avco Lycoming AEIO-540-D4A5, 260 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Richard D Schauss, doing business as Airshow Associates
- Registered owner
- Richard D Schauss
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal; Standard, Aerobatic
- Last inspection
- Annual · October 2, 1992 · 17 hours before
- Departed
- N71 · Maytown, PA
- Destination
- I77 · Cincinati, OH
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 42
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Rear
- Flight hours
- 886 total · 279 in this make and model · 764 as pilot in command
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 270° at 13 knots
- Visibility
- 25 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 18 °F, dew point 10 °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.