# NTSB CEN18IA273: Cessna A188B, N2483J, Rockford, OH, July 12, 2018 - Type: NTSB incident investigation - Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report - Date: July 12, 2018, 16:47 local (20:47 UTC) - Place: Rockford, OH - Coordinates: 40.698333, -84.63639 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.6983&lon=-84.6364&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 19, 2019 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Columbus FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 97800 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN18IA273 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/97800/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97800 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN18IA273 ## Probable cause The total loss of engine power, which resulted from the separation of the No. 2 connecting rod due to oil starvation as a result of insufficient clamping force of the engine's through-bolts. ## 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 · Incorrect service/maintenance (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna A188B, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058520/cases.md?model=2073005), [All aircraft, 233 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058520/cases.md) - [Fluids: oil](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071020): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid level (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna A188B, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071020/cases.md?model=2073005), [All aircraft, 174 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071020/cases.md) - [Engine (reciprocating): recip engine power section](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058520): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Damaged/degraded (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna A188B, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058520/cases.md?model=2073005), [All aircraft, 233 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058520/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900); cases with it: [Cessna A188B, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=2073005), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna A188B, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=2073005), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Cessna A188B, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=2073005), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna A188B, 24 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2073005), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The commercial pilot of the aerial application flight reported that the airplane was at 350 ft above ground level when the engine started running roughly and then lost total power. He executed a forced landing to a field, which resulted in minor damage to the right wing. A review of the engine maintenance logbooks indicated that the accident occurred 107.6 hours after all six cylinders were replaced. The engine teardown examination revealed a large hole in the crankcase near the No. 2 cylinder. The crankcase bearing supports exhibited signs consistent with bearing shift. The No. 2 and No. 3 lock tabs exhibited elongation, and all bearing support mating surfaces exhibited varying amounts of fretting, with the No. 2 and No. 3 surfaces displaying the most fretting. The No. 3 bearing had shifted a significant amount, and part of the bearing was separated. The No. 2 connecting rod bearings exhibited a significant amount of thermal damage consistent with heat distress. The No. 2 connecting rod was separated from its journal and exhibited damage consistent with lubrication distress. The No. 2 piston was separated from the connecting rod and remained in the cylinder. It is likely that, when all six cylinders were replaced, the engine's through-bolts did not have sufficient clamping force, which resulted in movement of the crankcase halves as evidenced by the fretting on the crankcase bearing supports. This led to the crankcase main bearings shifting, which resulted in oil starvation to the No. 2 connecting rod journal, failure of the No. 2 connecting rod, and the subsequent total loss of engine power. ## Factual narrative On July 12, 2018, about 1647 eastern daylight time, a Cessna A188B, N2483J, made a forced landing after a loss of engine power near Rockford, Ohio. The pilot was not injured; the airplane sustained minor damage. The airplane was owned and operated by the pilot under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 as an aerial-application flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the flight, which was not on a flight plan. The airplane departed about 1620 from the Lakefield Airport (CQA), Celina, Ohio, on a local flight. The pilot reported that he was flying at 350 ft above ground level when the engine started running rough and then stopped producing power. He executed a forced landing to a bean field, which resulted in minor damage to the right wing. The examination of the engine revealed that there was a hole in the engine case near the No. 2 cylinder. The engine was a 300-horsepower six-cylinder Continental IO-550-D engine. A review of the engine maintenance logbooks indicated that the last major overhaul was performed on February 2, 2014 and was installed on the airplane on April 1, 2014. All six cylinders were replaced on September 9, 2017 at a tachometer time of 1,225.8 hours. The logbook entry did not provide a reason for why all six cylinders were replaced. The last annual maintenance inspection was performed on April 2, 2018, at a tachometer time of 1,262.0 hours. The last oil change was performed on July 8, 2018, at a tachometer time of 1,315.6 hours. The tachometer time at the time of the accident was 1,333.4 hours, which as 107.6 hours since all six cylinders were replaced. The engine was shipped to Continental Motors for an engine teardown examination under the oversight of the National Transportation Safety Board. There were no signs of external impact to the engine. All six cylinders remained attached to their cylinder bays and there was no damaged noted to the cylinders. The crankcase bearing supports exhibited signs consistent with bearing shift. The No. 2 and No. 3 lock tabs exhibited elongation, and all bearing support mating surfaces exhibited varying amounts of fretting with the No. 2 and No. 3 surfaces displaying the most fretting. The No. 3 bearing had shifted a significant amount and a portion of the bearing was separated. It was noted that the crankshaft gear was improperly safety wired. The No. 2 connecting rod was separated from its journal and exhibited damage consistent with lubrication distress, and portions of the connecting rod were in the sump. The No. 2 connecting rod bearings exhibited a significant amount of thermal damage consistent with heat distress. The No. 2 piston was separated from the connecting rod and remained in the cylinder. The induction system remained attached to the engine; however, several induction coupling clamps were missing, and all the induction riser bolts that go on the inside portion of the attach flange were not installed. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2483J](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2483J), registered now, S/N 18803467T, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna A188B - Registry model: [Cessna A188B](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-a188b) (registry code 2073005) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18803467T - Year built: 1979 - Airframe hours: 7641 - Engines: Continental IO-550-D 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Minor damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: Trump Roger L - Registered owner: Trump Roger L - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, April 2, 2018 - Departed: CQA, Celina, OH - Destination: CQA, Celina, OH ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 61; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; seat: center; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 7,200 total, 2,500 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 140° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft broken - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 61 °F - Altimeter: 30.19 inHg - Observed at: FWA, 30 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 20180712017149A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180712017149A), Jul 12, 2018: Cessna A188B, Rockford, OH, Substantial damage. 1) Engine failed during spray operations. 2) Pilot landed aircraft safely in adjoining field. 3) Initial inspection revealed #2 connecting rod broke and… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 9, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97800. 1.2 MB in all. - Engine Teardown Summary (item 1, .PDF, 45 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40475645&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Engine%20Teardown%20Summary-Master.PDF - Photo Log (item 2, .PDF, 11 photos, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40475647&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%20Log-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.