# NTSB CEN10CA549: Cessna 182D, N9071X, Houston, TX, September 20, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: September 20, 2010, 13:15 local (18:15 UTC) - Place: Houston, TX - Coordinates: 29.935556, -95.639442 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.9356&lon=-95.6394&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 4 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 5, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 77351 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN10CA549 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/77351/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77351 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN10CA549 ## Probable cause The loss of engine power during the initial climb due to decreased engine oil quantity and pressure as a result of the engine's oil cap not being adequately secured. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Fluids: oil](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071020): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Not specified (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 182D, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071020/cases.md?model=2072710), [All aircraft, 174 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071020/cases.md) - [Engine (reciprocating)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Not specified; cases with it: [Cessna 182D, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500/cases.md?model=2072710), [All aircraft, 497 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 182D, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=2072710), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Cessna 182D, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=2072710), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Landing area overshoot](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/380); cases with it: [Cessna 182D, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/380/sequence.md?model=2072710), [All aircraft, 400 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/380/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 182D, 15 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2072710), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis Shortly after departure, when the airplane was approximately 250-feet above ground level, oil began to spray onto the windshield. The pilot checked the engine gauges and noticed a drop in oil pressure. As the pilot turned onto the crosswind leg of the traffic pattern, the engine started to operate abnormally and he performed a 180-degree turn back to the runway. The airplane touched down on the last 250 feet of the runway and proceeded through a fence. The airplane sustained substantial damage during the impact with the fence and came to rest upright, among several parked buses. A postaccident examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that the engine’s oil cap was hanging by its chain not secured on the engine case. The cap’s gasket appeared worn; however, the inspector could not determine when the cap came off. The pilot reported that the engine was serviced with oil prior to the flight and that he thought that the oil cap was secured afterward. ## Factual narrative Shortly after departure, when the airplane was approximately 250-feet AGL (above ground level), oil began to “spray” on to the windshield. The pilot then checked the engine gauges and noticed a drop in oil pressure. As the pilot turned to the crosswind leg, the engine started to run “rough”, and he elected to conduct a 180-degree turn back to the runway. The airplane landed on about the last 250-feet of the runway and proceeded through a fence. The airplane sustained structural damage during the impact with the fence and came to rest upright, among several parked buses. An examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration Inspector, revealed that the engine’s oil cap was off and hanging by its chain. The cap’s gasket appeared “worn”; however, the inspector could not determine when the cap came off. He added, that the pilot stated that the engine was serviced with oil prior to the flight, but the oil cap was secured. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9071X](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9071X-2014-11-25), registration cancelled 2014-11-25, S/N 18253471, built 1961 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 182D - Registry model: [Cessna 182D](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182d) (registry code 2072710) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18253471 - Airframe hours: 4875 - Engines: CONT MOTOR O-470 SERIES 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 10, 2010 - Departed: KEYQ, Houston, TX - Destination: KEYQ, Houston, TX - Airport: KEYQ, Weiser Air Park, runway 27, 3,455 × 40 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 24; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 66 total, 15 in this make and model, 17 as pilot in command, 30 in the last 90 days, 18 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 140° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 70 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: KDWH, 9 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 20100920046709A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100920046709A), Sep 20, 2010: Cessna 182D, Houston, TX, Substantial damage. Pilot stated after take-off at around 200 feet he notice the oil pressure gauge fluctuate. Immediantly oil mist began blowing over the wind screen. Pilot said… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 1, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77351. 745 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 716 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40338255&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Weather Reports and Records (item 2, .PDF, 29 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40338256&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records-Master.PDF 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.