# NTSB CEN14LA374: Cessna 172N, N13SK, Rockville, IN, July 16, 2014 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 16, 2014, 14:50 local (18:50 UTC) - Place: Rockville, IN - Coordinates: 39.761245, -87.226934 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.7612&lon=-87.2269&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 10, 2015 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 89683 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN14LA374 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/89683/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89683 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN14LA374 ## Probable cause A partial loss of engine power due to a failure of the dual magneto system. Contributing to the accident was the improper maintenance of the duel magneto system. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Ignition system: magneto/distributor](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057414): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057414/cases.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 101 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057414/cases.md) - [Ignition system: magneto/distributor](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057414): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Incorrect service/maintenance (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057414/cases.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 101 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057414/cases.md) - [Maintenance: scheduled/routine maintenance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062010): Personnel issues › Task performance · Maintenance personnel (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062010/cases.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 320 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute: Powerplant sys/comp malf/fail](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340); cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340/sequence.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340/sequence.md) - [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 46 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that the engine experienced a partial loss of power while the airplane was in cruise flight. After the pilot unsuccessfully attempted to restore engine power, he made a forced landing to a cornfield. Postaccident examination of the dual magneto system revealed that the four screws designed to hold the magneto points in their operational positions were loose, which caused both magneto points to remain in the closed position as the center cam was rotated and likely resulted in the partial loss of engine power. Airplane maintenance records indicated that the airplane had been flown 8 hours since its last annual inspection about 5 1/2 months before the accident. No further information about the maintenance was available. ## Factual narrative On July 16, 2014, about 1450 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172N airplane, N13SK, was substantially damaged during a forced landing near Rockville, Indiana. The pilot and passenger were not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which operated without a flight plan. The local flight departed from a private airport near Rockville, Indiana about 1400. According to the pilot, the engine lost partial power while in cruise flight. The pilot attempted to restore engine power by applying carburetor heat and checking the mixture and fuel selector positions, but engine performance continued to worsen. The pilot performed a forced landing into a corn field, during which both wings were damaged. During examination of the engine, both points of the single drive/dual magneto system would not open; as the center cam was rotated to the 'points open' position, both points remained closed. Further examination revealed that four screws designed to hold the magneto points in their operational position had become loose. Two of the loose screws did not have any torque paint on them; torque paint for the other two loose screws was missing from the screw slot. Aircraft records indicted the airplane had flown eight hours since its last annual inspection on February 3, 2014. The investigation was not able to interview the mechanic who performed this annual inspection and recent maintenance on the airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N13SK](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N13SK), registered now, S/N 17271183, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172N - Registry model: [Cessna 172N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n) (registry code 2072434) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17271183 - Year built: 1979 - Airframe hours: 5613 - Engines: LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Hopkins Jack E - Registered owner: Hopkins Jack E - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 13, 2014, 8 hours before - Departed: Priv, Rockville, IN - Destination: Rockville, IN - Equipment: Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 64; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 7, 2013; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 1,000 total, 250 in this make and model, 1,000 as pilot in command, 5 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 30.03 inHg - Observed at: KPRG, 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 20140716012449A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20140716012449A), Jul 16, 2014: Cessna 172N, Rockville, IN, Substantial damage. At approximately 1:45 pm eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172 aircraft, N13SK, sustained substantial damage following impact with terrain while returning from a… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 21, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89683. 2.6 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40421433&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Magneto Exam - Correspondence Between FAA and Mechanic (item 2, .PDF, 38 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40421434&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Magneto%20Exam%20-%20Correspondence%20Between%20FAA%20and%20Mechanic-Redacted.PDF - Photo 1 - Center Cam (item 3, .PDF, 1.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40421435&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20-%20Center%20Cam-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.