# NTSB CEN18LA174: Cessna 177, N9058F, Fort Wayne, IN, May 15, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 15, 2018, 14:55 local (18:55 UTC) - Place: Fort Wayne, IN - Coordinates: 41.169998, -85.18 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.1700&lon=-85.1800&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Powerplant sys/comp malf/fail](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 8, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 97261 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN18LA174 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/97261/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97261 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN18LA174 ## Probable cause The failure of the oil cooler due to a defect in the brazed joint, which resulted in a loss of engine power due to oil starvation. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Eng oil sys (airframe furnish): cooler](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057921): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 177, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057921/cases.md?model=2073704), [All aircraft, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057921/cases.md) - [Engine (reciprocating)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 177, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500/cases.md?model=2073704), [All aircraft, 497 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-cruise: Powerplant sys/comp malf/fail](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 177, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340/sequence.md?model=2073704), [All aircraft, 820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340/sequence.md) - [Enroute-climb to cruise: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341); cases with it: [Cessna 177, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=2073704), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 177, 28 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2073704), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he had departed on a local flight and leveled the airplane at 2,600 ft mean sea level when he observed a drop in engine rpm and heard a "thumping" sound from the engine. The pilot reversed course to return to the airport; the noise increased, he smelled burning oil, and the engine subsequently quit. The pilot conducted a forced landing to a field, during which the nose landing gear collapsed and the wings sustained substantial damage. An examination of the airplane revealed no oil on the engine dipstick; however, oil was coming out of the oil cooler, and oil was visible on the right side of the cowling. Maintenance records indicated that the engine, including the oil cooler, was new and had been installed about 8 hours before the accident flight. An examination of the oil cooler revealed that the leak came from between the plates forming the oil circuit; it was likely due to a defect in the brazed joint between the plates. The engine lost power due to oil starvation. ## Factual narrative On May 15, 2018, at 1455 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 177 airplane, N9058F, was substantially damaged during a forced landing near Fort Wayne, Indiana. The commercial pilot and passenger were not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which was operated on an instrument flight rules flight plan. The local flight originated from the Smith Field Airport (SMD), Fort Wayne, Indiana, at 1453.The pilot reported that shortly after takeoff as he leveled the airplane at 2,600 ft mean sea level, the engine rpm began decreasing and he heard a "thumping" noise in the engine. He lowered the nose of the airplane to maintain 80 mph and turned back toward the airport. The thumping noise increased, and he smelled burning oil just before the engine quit. The pilot selected a field for a forced landing and as he approached the field, he banked to the left to avoid overrunning the field. As he banked, the left wingtip contacted the ground and the airplane slid sideways collapsing the nose landing gear. Both wings sustained substantial damage. According to the responding Federal Aviation Administration Inspector, an examination of the engine revealed no oil on the engine oil dip stick. Oil was visible on the right side of the cowling and oil was coming from the oil cooler. According to the maintenance records, the engine, including the oil cooler, was new and had been installed about 8 hours prior to the accident flight. The oil cooler was sent to the National Transportation Safety Board Materials Laboratory in Washington, DC, for further examination. Examination of the oil cooler revealed that the leak came from between the plates forming the third oil circuit from the bottom. There was no evidence of mechanical damage from an external source and no evidence of bulging or other distortions. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9058F](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9058F-2019-08-29), registration cancelled 2019-08-29, S/N 17700304, built 1967 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 177 - Registry model: [Cessna 177](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-177) (registry code 2073704) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17700304 - Year built: 1967 - Airframe hours: 3844 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320 reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 21, 2018, 8 hours before - Departed: SMD, FORT WAYNE, IN - Destination: SMD, FORT WAYNE, IN - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: SMD, Smith Field - Equipment: Onboard weather, Stall warning system, Auto-pilot, Electronic multifunction display, Electronic primary flight display, Handheld GPS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 65; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review August 26, 2016; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 3,255 total, 1,405 in this make and model, 3,193 as pilot in command, 50 in the last 90 days, 12 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 10,000 ft broken - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 inHg - Observed at: SMD, 2 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 20180515005389A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180515005389A), May 15, 2018: Cessna 177, Fort Wayne, IN, Substantial damage. On may 15, 2018 at approximately 2:00PM eastern standard time, a 1968 Cessna 177-F, N9058F, serial number 17700304, sustained substantial damage following… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 23, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97261. 6.1 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 4.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40482918&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Record of Conversation (item 2, .PDF, 53 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40482919&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation-Master.PDF - Maintenance Records (item 3, .PDF, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40482920&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Maintenance%20Records-Master.PDF - Materials Laboratory Factual Report 18-104 (item 4, .PDF, 369 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40482924&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Materials%20Laboratory%20Factual%20Report%2018-104-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.