# NTSB CEN12LA455: Cessna 175A, N7003E, Shelby, IL, July 17, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 17, 2012, 11:00 local (15:00 UTC) - Place: Shelby, IL - Coordinates: 40.348735, -88.986213 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.3487&lon=-88.9862&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 30, 2014 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 84363 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN12LA455 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/84363/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=84363 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12LA455 ## Probable cause The loss of engine power due to oil starvation for reasons that could not be determined because engine examinations revealed no malfunctions or failures that would have led to oil starvation. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Eng oil sys (airframe furnish): quantity](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057932): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 175A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057932/cases.md?model=2072504), [All aircraft, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057932/cases.md) - [Aircraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01050000): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 175A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01050000/cases.md?model=2072504), [All aircraft, 151 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01050000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute: Unknown or undetermined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000); cases with it: [Cessna 175A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000/sequence.md?model=2072504), [All aircraft, 1,703 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000/sequence.md) - [Enroute: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 175A, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=2072504), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Landing: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Cessna 175A, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=2072504), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Cessna 175A, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=2072504), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis While in cruise flight, the pilot-rated passenger and flight instructor heard a knocking sound from the engine. The flight instructor reduced the engine power and diverted the airplane toward the nearest airport. Subsequently, the pilots heard a loud "clunk" sound from the engine, the engine lost power, and smoke filled the cockpit. The flight instructor executed a forced landing to a field, and the airplane nosed over. An examination of the engine found that the No. 3 cylinder had failed due to oil starvation; however, a reason for the oil starvation could not be determined. ## Factual narrative On July 17, 2012, about 1100 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 175A airplane, N7003E, conducted a forced landing after a loss of engine power near Shelby, Indiana. The certificated flight instructor (CFI) and the pilot rated passenger were not injured. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The airplane was registered to and operated by a private individual under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which operated without a flight plan. The flight departed the Anderson Municipal Airport (KAID), Anderson, Indiana, and was headed for the Poplar Grove Airport (C77), Poplar Grove, Illinois. According to a statement provided by the CFI, while cruising at 4,500 feet mean sea level, he heard a knocking sound coming from the engine. Engine power was reduced and the pilots began to divert to a nearby airport when they heard a big "clunk" from the engine. Smoke emanated from the engine and filled the cockpit. The CFI performed a forced landing to a bean field. During the landing the airplane nosed over resulting in substantial damage to the vertical stabilizer. Damage was also noted to the engine case and the #3 cylinder counterweight. An examination of the engine found evidence of oil starvation resulting in damage to the engine. The reason for the oil starvation could not be determined. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7003E](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7003E), registered now, S/N 56503, built 1960 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 175A - Registry model: [Cessna 175A](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-175a) (registry code 2072504) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental GO-300 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-go-300-series) (registry code 17024, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 56503 - Engines: CONT MOTOR GO-300 SERIES 175 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Perry Dennis R - Registered owner: Perry Dennis R - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: AID, ANDERSON, IN - Destination: C77, POPLAR GROVE, IL ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 58; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; seat: left ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 170° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 72 °F - Altimeter: 29.94 inHg - Observed at: KGEZ ## 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 20120717017389A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120717017389A), Jul 17, 2012: Cessna 175A, Shelby, IN, Substantial damage. At approximately 10 miles east of lake village airport (C98) FL4500' the pilot stated that he heard a knocking noise from the engine and headed to lake village… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 21, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=84363. 4.6 MB in all. - Reports from Federal Agencies: NTSB Case Notes (item 1, .PDF, 54 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40404293&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Reports%20from%20Federal%20Agencies%3A%20NTSB%20Case%20Notes-Master.PDF - Record of Correspondence: FAA Inspector (item 2, .PDF, 52 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40404294&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Correspondence%3A%20FAA%20Inspector-Master.PDF - Photo 1: Engine case damage (item 3, .PDF, 2.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40404295&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%3A%20Engine%20case%20damage-Master.PDF - Photo 2: Photo of internal engine damage (item 4, .PDF, 1.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40404296&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%3A%20Photo%20of%20internal%20engine%20damage-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.