# NTSB CEN10LA168: Cessna 182G, N2381R, Mount Vernon, MO, March 18, 2010

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: March 18, 2010, 18:20 local (23:20 UTC)
- Place: Mount Vernon, MO
- Coordinates: 37.068332, -93.884719 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.0683&lon=-93.8847&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Maneuvering: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report July 22, 2010
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 75559
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN10LA168
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/75559/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=75559
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN10LA168

## Probable cause

A loss of engine power due to the failure of the number four connecting rod for undetermined reasons.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Engine (reciprocating): recip engine power section](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058520): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 182G, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058520/cases.md?model=2072716), [All aircraft, 233 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058520/cases.md)
- [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 182G, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=2072716), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md)
- [Experience/qualifications: qualification/certification](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031010): Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge · Pilot; cases with it: [Cessna 182G, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031010/cases.md?model=2072716), [All aircraft, 280 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031010/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Maneuvering: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 182G, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=2072716), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md)
- [Emergency descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 182G, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2072716), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

During flight at 10,000 feet above ground level, the engine began to vibrate and run rough. Shortly thereafter, a loud bang occurred and oil was present on the windscreen. The pilot attempted a forced landing, and during the forced landing, the airplane landed short of the runway and impacted a ditch. Examination of the engine revealed the number four connecting rod had failed for undetermined reasons. The pilot had not completed a flight review within the preceding 24 calendar months.

## Factual narrative

On March 18, 2010, at 1820 central daylight time, a Cessna 182G single-engine airplane, N2381R, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing following a loss of engine power while maneuvering near Mount Vernon, Missouri. The commercial pilot, who was the sole occupant at the time of the accident, was not injured. The airplane was registered to a private individual and operated by Skydive Missouri, Mount Vernon, Missouri. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed for the Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 skydiving flight. The flight originated from the Mount Vernon Municipal Airport (2MO) at 1810. According to the pilot, the flight was a routine skydiving flight which involved the pilot along with a skydiving instructor and a tandem student. After reaching the jump altitude of 10,000 feet above ground level (agl), the engine began to vibrate and run rough. Shortly thereafter, a loud bang occurred and oil was present on the windscreen. The instructor and student elected to jump out of the airplane and let the pilot attempt a forced landing to 2MO by himself. During the forced landing, the pilot was concerned with his reduced visibility and the skydivers that had just exited the airplane. Subsequently, the airplane landed short of the runway and impacted a ditch. Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed the firewall was buckled and the lower forward fuselage was bent aft. The engine showed a hole in the crankcase near the number 4 cylinder. The airplane was retained for further examination. A review of the maintenance records revealed on March 19, 2001, the engine was modified from a TCM IO-520-D engine to a Texas Skyways O-520-F/TS engine per Texas Skyways Supplemental Type Certificate SE 09017SC, at a total time of 0 hours. On April 13, 2001, the engine was installed on the accident airplane. On February 24, 2006, six "yellow tagged" cylinders and pistons were installed at a total engine time of 1,235.3 hours. On August 1, 2007, the number four and number six cylinders and pistons were replaced at a total engine time of 1,671.2 hours. On August 28, 2009, the engine underwent its most recent 100-hour inspection at a total time of 1,953.9 hours. At the time of the accident, the operator estimated the engine had accumulated 2,050 total hours. On April 22, 2010, the engine was examined at TCM under the supervision of the NTSB investigator-in-charge. Examination of the engine revealed the number four connecting rod had fractured and fragmented. The connecting rod, connecting rod cap, connecting rod bolt heads, and connecting rod bearing debris were found within the engine. The connecting rod bolt shanks and nuts were not located. In addition, one connecting rod yoke was not located. Due to the lack of these components, the failure origination could not be determined. No additional anomalies were noted throughout the engine that would have precludednormal operation. According to a FAA inspector, the pilot had not completed a flight review within the preceding 24 calendar months. The pilot's most recent flight review was completed on October 11, 2007.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2381R](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2381R-2021-10-23), registration cancelled 2021-10-23, S/N 18255481, built 1964 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 182G
- Registry model: [Cessna 182G](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182g) (registry code 2072716) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 18255481
- Airframe hours: 8672.8
- Engines: CONT MOTOR O-470 SERIES 230 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Skydiving, Part 91
- Operator: Skydive Missouri
- Registered owner: Feisthamel Robert R
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, August 28, 2009, 97 hours before
- Departed: 2MO, Mount Vernon, MO
- Destination: 2MO, Mount Vernon, MO

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 33; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review October 11, 2007; seat: left; flight hours: 1,500 total, 5 in this make and model, 1,450 as pilot in command, 100 in the last 90 days, 30 in the last 30 days, 20 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 59 °F, dew point 41 °F
- Altimeter: 29.96 inHg
- Observed at: HFS, 11 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 20100318029949A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100318029949A), Mar 18, 2010: Cessna 182G, Mount Vernon, MO, Substantial damage. Cessna 182G N2381R sustained substantial damage during a forced landing following a loss of engine power while maneuvering near Mount Vernon, Missouri. The…

## Docket (6 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 4, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=75559. 1.7 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 365 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40329354&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- Excerpt of Engine Logbook (item 2, .PDF, 426 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40329355&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Excerpt%20of%20Engine%20Logbook-Redacted.PDF
- Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation (item 3, .PDF, 38 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40329356&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Statement%20of%20Party%20Representatives%20to%20NTSB%20Investigation-Redacted.PDF
- Photo 01 View of Crankshaft Connecting Rod Journal (provided by TCM) (item 4, .PDF, 146 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40329357&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%2001%20View%20of%20Crankshaft%20Connecting%20Rod%20Journal%20(provided%20by%20TCM)-Master.PDF
- Photo 02 View of Number 4 Connecting Rod (item 5, .PDF, 352 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40329358&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%2002%20View%20of%20Number%204%20Connecting%20Rod-Master.PDF
- Photo 03 View of Number 4 Connecting Rod (item 6, .PDF, 371 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40329359&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%2003%20View%20of%20Number%204%20Connecting%20Rod-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.

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