- Date
- June 12, 2009, 15:30 local (19:30 UTC)
- Place
- Mitchell, IN
- Injuries
- 1 serious, 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N540MTThrockmorton Matthew E F1-EVO
- Defining event
- Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (total)
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report November 9, 2009
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Central Region
- Parties
- FAA-Indianapolis FSDO
- Case key
- 74041
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
A total loss of engine power due to the disconnection of an oil line and the subsequent loss of engine oil.
Findings · 2
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The pilot reported that during cruise flight he observed an oil pressure warning indication on the electronic flight instrument system and noted that the engine oil pressure had dropped to approximately one pound per square inch. He immediately turned toward the nearest airport, which was about 7 miles away; however, the engine stopped producing power about one minute later. The pilot prepared for a forced landing to a farm field. The field consisted of chest-high grass with soft, muddy areas. The airplane subsequently nosed over during the landing. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that an oil line between the oil cooler and the engine became disconnected. The oil line and fitting appeared to be otherwise intact. The examination also noted oil residue along the bottom of the fuselage. The oil line connection was not equipped with a clamp, and relied on the interference of the line and the fitting to maintain the connection. The pilot stated that the oil line manufacturer assured him that the design configuration was adequate.
Factual narrative
The pilot reported that during cruise flight he observed an oil pressure warning indication on the electronic flight instrument system (EFIS) and noted that the engine oil pressure had dropped to approximately one pound per square inch (psi). He immediately turned toward the nearest airport, which was about 7 miles away. However, the engine stopped producing power about one minute later. The pilot prepared for a forced landing to a farm field. The field consisted of chest-high grass with soft, muddy areas. The airplane subsequently nosed over during the landing. A post-accident examination of the airplane revealed that an oil line between the oil cooler and the engine became disconnected. The oil line and fitting appeared to be otherwise intact. The examination also noted oil residue along the bottom of the fuselage. The oil line connection was not equipped with a clamp, and relied on the interference of the line and the fitting to maintain the connection. The pilot stated that the oil line manufacturer assured him that the design configuration was adequate.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N540MT
- Reported as
- Throckmorton Matthew E F1-EVO
- Category
- Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number
- 132
- Airframe hours
- 150
- Engine
- Mattittuck TMX-IO-540, 260 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection
- Condition · March 1, 2009
- Departed
- 2R2 · Indianapolis, IN
- Destination
- BWG · Bowling Green, KY
- Flight plan
- Unknown
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
- 50
- Injuries
- Serious
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- July 26, 2007
- Seat
- Front
- Flight hours
- 1,800 total · 150 in this make and model · 1,800 as pilot in command · 33 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 300° at 3 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 2,700 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 70 °F, dew point 61 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.94 inHg
- Observed at
- BMG, 30 nm away
Docket · 4
The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 24, 2009, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 1.5 MB in all.