BFO95LA089

NTSB accident investigation · Cessna R172K · Lisbon, OH · August 26, 1995

Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
August 26, 1995, 19:12 local (23:12 UTC)
Place
Lisbon, OH
Injuries
1 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Enroute
Aircraft
N1439VCessna R172K
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report February 27, 1996
Report
Approved by Office Director
FAA report
19950826025919A
Case key
9077

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

Loss of oil, where an oil filter adapter had separated from the crankcase cover, due to stripped threads that were caused or allowed by inadequate maintenance or inspection, which resulted in oil exhaustion and subsequent loss of engine power. A factor relating to the accident was: the airplane encountered uneven terrain during a forced landing.

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.

Loss of engine power(total) - mech failure/malfCruise
Lubricating system,oil filter/screen - stripped threadCause
Maintenance - inadequateCause
Lubricating system,oil filter/screen - separationCause
Fluid,oil - exhaustionCause
Forced landingEmergency descent/landing
On ground/water encounter with terrain/waterLanding - roll
Terrain condition - drop-off/descending embankment

Analysis

The pilot reported that he was operating the airplane over a fairground area, towing a banner, when he noted a complete loss of oil pressure. He stated that he tried to return to the airport, but the engine lost power. He made a forced landing in a freshly mown hay field. The pilot reported that the airplane encountered a drop off during the forced landing/landing roll and was damaged. Postaccident examination revealed that the oil filter adapter had separated from a boss on the crankcase cover. An FAA Inspector stated that about 80% of the threads in the crankcase cover boss were stripped.

Factual narrative

On August 26, 1995, at 1912 eastern daylight time, a Cessna R172K, N1439V, lost engine power and made a forced landing in an open field at Lisbon, Ohio. The certificated commercial pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The airplane sustained substantial damage. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, no flight plan was filed. The local flight originated from East Liverpool, Ohio, and was conducted under 14 CFR 91.

The pilot reported that he was operating the airplane over the fairgrounds, towing a banner, when he noted a complete loss of oil pressure. He stated that when he tried to return to the airport, the engine lost power and he made a forced landing in a freshly mown hay field. The pilot reported that the airplane was damaged when it went over a drop off during the forced landing/landing roll.

The airplane was examined after the accident by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Inspector. The examination revealed that the oil filter adapter separated from the boss of the crankcase cover. According to the FAA, about 80% of the threads in the crankcase cover boss were stripped.

Aircraft

Registration
N1439V
Reported as
Cessna R172K
Category
Airplane
Serial number
R1722191
Airframe hours
3,683
Engine
Continental IO-360-K1, 210 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Registered owner
David R. Freeman
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · June 7, 1995 · 45 hours before
Departed
02G · East Liverpool, 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
46
Certificates
Commercial, Flight instructor
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
Seat
Left
Flight hours
2,272 total · 2,083 as pilot in command · 77 in the last 90 days · 25 in the last 30 days · 8 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
360° at 6 knots
Visibility
15 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
88 °F, dew point 46 °F
Altimeter
30.00 inHg
Observed at
BVI, 15 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.

Other investigations on N1439V · 1

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.