# NTSB CEN12CA035: Houts Avid Mark IV, N43280, Hibbing, MN, October 21, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: October 21, 2011, 16:15 local (21:15 UTC) - Place: Hibbing, MN - Coordinates: 47.386665, -92.83889 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.3867&lon=-92.8389&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute: Powerplant sys/comp malf/fail](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 19, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - Minneapolis FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 82144 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN12CA035 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/82144/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=82144 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12CA035 ## Probable cause The improper installation of a hose clamp, which resulted in an oil line rupture and subsequent loss of engine oil pressure. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Engine (reciprocating): recip eng oil sys](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058550): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Incorrect service/maintenance (probable cause); cases with it: [Houts Jerry R AVID MARK IV, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058550/cases.md?model=95708EY), [All aircraft, 131 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058550/cases.md) - [Engine (reciprocating): recip eng oil sys](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058550): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Houts Jerry R AVID MARK IV, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058550/cases.md?model=95708EY), [All aircraft, 131 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058550/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: fence/fence post](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022047): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Houts Jerry R AVID MARK IV, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022047/cases.md?model=95708EY), [All aircraft, 316 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022047/cases.md) - [Maintenance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062000): Personnel issues › Task performance · Maintenance personnel (probable cause); cases with it: [Houts Jerry R AVID MARK IV, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062000/cases.md?model=95708EY), [All aircraft, 143 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Prior to flight: Aircraft maintenance event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/040); cases with it: [Houts Jerry R AVID MARK IV, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/040/sequence.md?model=95708EY), [All aircraft, 484 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/040/sequence.md) - [Enroute: Powerplant sys/comp malf/fail](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340) (defining event); cases with it: [Houts Jerry R AVID MARK IV, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340/sequence.md?model=95708EY), [All aircraft, 821 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340/sequence.md) - [Enroute: Fire/smoke (non-impact)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/150); cases with it: [Houts Jerry R AVID MARK IV, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/150/sequence.md?model=95708EY), [All aircraft, 504 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/150/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Houts Jerry R AVID MARK IV, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=95708EY), [All aircraft, 3,368 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Houts Jerry R AVID MARK IV, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=95708EY), [All aircraft, 10,153 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that during the local flight the engine lost oil pressure and the cockpit began to fill with smoke. He immediately reduced engine power to idle and performed a forced landing to a nearby field. The airplane collided with a barbed wire fence during the landing roll and subsequently nosed over. The fuselage, right wing, and vertical stabilizer were substantially damaged. A postaccident inspection revealed that the oil supply line to the oil cooler had ruptured, which allowed oil to come in contact with the engine's hot exhaust, producing smoke. The rubber, automobile-style oil line had failed immediately adjacent to its respective oil cooler inlet fitting. The hose clamp used to secure the oil line to the inlet fitting was not properly positioned over the fitting, which allowed the unsupported hose clamp to abrade through the oil line. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that during the local flight the engine experienced a loss of oil pressure and the cockpit began to fill with smoke. He immediately reduced engine power to idle and performed a forced landing to a nearby field. The airplane collided with a barbed-wire fence during the landing rollout and subsequently nosed-over. The fuselage, right wing, and vertical stabilizer were substantially damaged. A postaccident inspection revealed that the oil supply line to the oil cooler had ruptured, which allowed oil to come in contact with the engine's hot exhaust producing smoke. The rubber, automobile-style, oil line had failed immediately adjacent to its respective oil cooler inlet fitting. The hose-clamp used to secure the oil line to the inlet fitting was not properly positioned over the fitting, which allowed the unsupported hose-clamp to abrade through the oil line. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N43280](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N43280), registered now, S/N 1176D, built 1992 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Houts Avid Mark IV - Registry model: [Houts Jerry R AVID MARK IV](https://openairdocs.org/model/houts-jerry-r-avid-mark-iv) (registry code 95708EY) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 582SER](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-582ser) (registry code 55556, 2 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 1176D - Airframe hours: 483 - Engines: Jabiru 2200 80 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, December 3, 2010 - Departed: KEVM, Eveleth, MN - Destination: KEVM, Eveleth, MN ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 59; injuries: none; sport pilot; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: sport pilot; last flight review June 10, 2011; seat: left; flight hours: 497 total, 365 in this make and model, 497 as pilot in command, 27 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 260° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 30 °F - Altimeter: 29.88 inHg - Observed at: KHIB, 6 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 20111021024179A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20111021024179A), Oct 21, 2011: Houts Jerry R AVID MARK IV, Hibbing, MN, Substantial damage. [privacy data omitted] Was heading east at about 800 ft when the aircraft cabin began to fill with fumes and smoke. At that point, [privacy data omitted] had… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 7, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=82144. 1.2 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 948 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40357368&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - FAA Inspector Statement (item 2, .PDF, 115 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40357369&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - Photo 01. Ruptured Oil Line, image provided by FAA. (item 3, .PDF, 92 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40357370&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%2001.%20Ruptured%20Oil%20Line,%20image%20provided%20by%20FAA.-Master.PDF - Weather Reports (item 4, .PDF, 21 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40357372&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports-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.