# NTSB CEN19LA206: Cessna 140, N3725V, Reeves, LA, July 4, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: July 4, 2019, 11:45 local (16:45 UTC) - Place: Reeves, LA - Coordinates: 30.520833, -93.0475 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.5208&lon=-93.0475&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA - Baton Rouge FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 99770 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN19LA206 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/99770/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99770 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN19LA206 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to secure the oil filler cap, which resulted in oil starvation and a precautionary off-airport landing, during which the airplane was substantially damaged. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Inspection: preflight inspection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 140, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md?model=2071602), [All aircraft, 551 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md) - [Fluids: oil](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071020): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Incorrect service/maintenance (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 140, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071020/cases.md?model=2071602), [All aircraft, 174 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071020/cases.md) - [Fluids: oil](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071020): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid level (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 140, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071020/cases.md?model=2071602), [All aircraft, 174 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 140, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=2071602), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 140, 32 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2071602), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he landed to refuel and take a break, during which time he also added engine oil. About 15 minutes after departing, he noticed that the engine oil pressure reading had dropped to about 0 pounds per square inch (psi) from 30 psi about 1 minute earlier. Due to the wooded terrain over which the airplane was flying, the pilot elected to make a precautionary landing to a nearby clearing. During the landing, the right wing strut impacted a fence post and the airplane bounced and nosed over, resulting in substantial damage. While examining the airplane after the accident, the pilot found that the oil filler cap/dipstick was loose. Based on the information provided by the pilot, the accident was the result of his failure to ensure that the oil filler cap was properly secured, which resulted in loss of the oil supply and necessitated the precautionary off-airport landing. ## Factual narrative On July 4, 2019, about 1145 central daylight time, a Cessna 140 airplane, N3725V, was substantially damaged during a nose-over during a precautionary landing near Reeves, Louisiana. The pilot was 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 not on a flight plan. The flight originated from the De Quincy Industrial Airpark (5R8), De Quincy, Louisiana, about 1120 with St Landry Parish Airport-Ahart Field (OPL), Opelousas, Louisiana, as the planned destination. The pilot reported that he landed at 5R8 to get fuel and to take a break. He stated that he also filled the engine oil at this time. About 15 minutes after departing 5R8, he noticed that the engine oil pressure reading had dropped to about 0 pounds per square inch (psi) from 30 psi about a minute earlier. Using his electronic flight charts, the pilot determined that the nearest airport was 7 minutes away. Due to the wooded area over which the airplane was flying, the pilot elected to make a precautionary landing to a clearing nearby. During the precautionary landing the airplane's right wing strut struck a fence post, the airplane bounced a few times, and nosed over. The airplane had substantial damage to the right wing strut, the vertical tail surfaces, and the engine mount. After examining the airplane after the accident the pilot found the oil dipstick loose from its proper location. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3725V](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3725V), registered now, S/N 15002, built 1948 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 140 (Undesignat) - Registry model: [Cessna 140](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-140) (registry code 2071602) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental C90 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c90-series) (registry code 17009, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15002 - Year built: 1948 - Airframe hours: 3645 - Engines: Continental C90-12F 90 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 17, 2019 - Departed: 5R8, De Quincy, LA - Destination: OPL, Opelousas, LA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 22; injuries: minor; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 445 total, 107 in this make and model, 420 as pilot in command, 43 in the last 90 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 160° at 8 knots - Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 75 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg - Observed at: 22 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 20190704009169A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190704009169A), Jul 4, 2019: Cessna 140, Ragley, LA, Substantial damage. Aircraft lost oil pressure and landed in a field. Upon touchdown aircraft hit a fence post and flipped upside down. ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 15, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99770. 3.0 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40482489&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Pilot Statement (item 2, .PDF, 80 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40482490&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Statement-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.