# NTSB BFO94LA044: Cessna 172, N100DF, East Newport, ME, February 20, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 20, 1994, 14:21 local (19:21 UTC) - Place: East Newport, ME - Location: 44.8209° N, 69.2225° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of East Newport, ME, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.8209&lon=-69.2225&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 10, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 8893 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=BFO94LA044 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/8893/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO94LA044 ## Probable cause IMPROPER ENGINE MAINTENANCE BY THE OPERATOR RESULTING IN OIL EXHAUSTION AND SUBSEQUENT INTERNAL ENGINE DAMAGE. ## 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 - worn (cause) - maintenance,overhaul,major - not performed, company maintenance personnel (cause) - engine assembly,connecting rod - fractured (cause) - maintenance - improper, company maintenance personnel (cause) - fluid,oil - exhaustion (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - Nose over, emergency descent/landing - terrain condition - soft (contributing factor) ## Analysis THE FLIGHT HAD DEPARTED PITTSFIELD EARLIER IN THE DAY ON A CROSS-COUNTRY FLIGHT. AFTER ABOUT 3-1/2 HRS OF FLIGHT, THE PILOT DIVERTED TO BANGOR BECAUSE OF HIGH OIL TEMP AND LOW OIL PRESS INDICATIONS. FOUR QUARTS OF OIL WERE PUT IN THE ENGINE, AND NO MAINTENANCE WAS PERFORMED. NO OIL LEAKS WERE VISIBLE. SOON AFTER TAKEOFF THE ENGINE SEIZED. A FORCED LANDING WAS MADE IN A SOFT FIELD, AND THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER. EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED THAT THE #4 CONNECTING ROD HAD FRACTURED. NO OIL WAS FOUND IN THE ENGINE, AND THE ENGINE COMPONENTS WERE SEVERELY WORN. EXAMINATION OF THE LOGBOOKS REVEALED THAT THE ENGINE HAD ACCUMULATED OVER 3,153 HRS OF OPERATING TIME, AND HAD NEVER BEEN OVERHAULED. ## Factual narrative On February 19, 1994, about 1421 hours eastern standard time, a Cessna 172, N100DF, operated by the Maine Flight Center, Pittsfield, Maine, nosed over during landing roll at the termination of a forced landing near East Newport, Maine. The airplane was substantially damaged. The forced landing was precipitated by a loss of engine power during cruise flight. The certificated private pilot and his two passengers were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed. The personal flight originated from Bangor, Maine, about 1400 hours, and was conducted under 14 CFR 91. The pilot stated that he departed from Pittsfield, Maine, earlier in the day on a cross country flight. One quart of oil was placed into the engine prior to departure. Later during the flight, after about 3.5 hours of flight time, the pilot diverted to Bangor, Maine, because of low oil pressure and high oil temperature indications. After arriving in Bangor, the pilot requested oil for the airplane and a mechanic to inspect it. Four quarts of oil were placed into the engine and no maintenance was performed. The pilot examined the ground and the underside of the airplane and found no visible leaks. The mechanic told the pilot that "...low oil was normal on 172s." Deciding to continue the flight, the pilot started the engine, ran it up and determined that engine operation was "normal." He then departed Bangor en route to Pittsfield. About three minutes after reaching a cruising altitude of 4,500 feet mean sea level (msl), the engine temperature again rose rapidly with a concurrent drop in oil pressure. About one minute later, the engine seized. The pilot performed a forced landing into a soft, muddy field. The airplane nosed over onto its back during landing rollout. An examination of the airplane by an FAA aviation safety inspector revealed substantial damage to both wings and the fuselage. A hole about one inch in diameter was found in the engine crankcase near the no. 4 cylinder. The no. 4 connecting rod was fractured. The engine was disassembled and inspected by the FAA inspector on March 1, 1994, at the airport in Pittsfield. A report of the inspection is attached. According to the report: ...it was noted that this engine had experienced extensive wear to the piston pin plugs; (some were egg shaped), one was broken, the piston pin boss holes were badly worn, two lobes on the camshaft were severely pitted and the crankshaft bearings were worn considerably. The oil pump gears were virtually impossible to rotate by hand (gear striking the housing, which did not appear to be accident related) and the housing had considerable wear. Most noteworthy, during the investigation, was that an unauthorized piece of sheet metal had been installed on the front of the right rear engine baffle to block the flow of cooling air to the engine oil cooler.... No explanation ...can be given as to why the oil temperature did not "peg" flying many hours with the oil cooler air flow blocked, especially on a 45-degree day. A review of the engine maintenance logbook revealed that the engine had logged a total of 3153.3 hours without ever receiving a major or top overhaul. The FAA inspector stated, "...cause of this engine failure ...was due to high engine time ...resulting in excessive wear of internal parts." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N100DF](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N100DF-2007-05-01), registration cancelled 2007-05-01, S/N 17259479, built 1970 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172 - Registry model: [Cessna 172L](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172l) (registry code 2072432) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17259479 - Airframe hours: 2697 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320-E2D 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Hurt, Robert, doing business as Maine Flight Center - Registered owner: Hurt, Robert - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, October 13, 1993, 92 hours before - Departed: BGR, BANGOR, ME - Destination: 2B7, PITTSFIELD, ME ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 39; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 107 total, 49 in this make and model, 69 as pilot in command, 15 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 7 knots - Visibility: 13 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft broken - Temperature: 45 °F, dew point 28 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: BGR, 16 nm away ## Other investigations on N100DF (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 NYC73DNA36](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC73DNA36), Jan 29, 1973: Cessna 172L (N100DF), Nantucket, MA, substantial damage 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.