CEN22LA037

The pilot reported that while on approach to the airport, smoke filled the cockpit and the oil pressure gauge indicated zero. Unable to make the runway, the pilot declared an emergency and turned toward a nearby interstate. During descent, the engine lost total power. The airplane touched down between traffic, and as the airplane slowed, the right wing struck a truck. The airplane swerved off the pavement and it came to rest nose down in the median. During an on-scene examination, oil was observed along the bottom and right side of the airplane. The engine cowling was removed, and oil was noted inside the cowling and on the engine components near the oil filter. The oil filter safety wire was fractured and separated allowing the oil filter to rotate freely when turned by hand. The pilot who was not a licensed mechanic performed his own oil and oil filter changes on this airplane. When asked about safety wire and how to apply it, he said he was unaware of specific safety wire guidance, he “just installed it.” It was evident that the loss of engine power resulted due to oil starvation as a result of the loose oil filter. Given the available evidence it it could not be determined why the oil filter safety wire fractured or if it was properly installed.

On October 28, 2021, about 1626 central daylight time, a Beech K35, N899RW, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Hammond, Louisiana. The pilot and two passengers were not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot reported that shortly after being cleared to land at the Hammond Northshore Regional Airport (HDC), Hammond, Louisiana, smoke filled the cockpit and the oil pressure gauge indicated zero. Unable to make it to the runway, the pilot declared an emergency and turned toward a nearby interstate. During the descent, the engine lost total power. The airplane touched down between traffic, and as the airplane slowed, the right wing struck a truck. The airplane swerved right, then left, and exited the pavement. It came to rest came to rest nose down against the median fence. The right wing sustained substantial damage. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Inspector went on scene and observed oil along the bottom and right side of the airplane. The engine cowling was removed, and oil was noted inside the cowling and on the engine components near the oil filter. The oil filter safety wire was fractured and separated allowing the oil filter to rotate freely when turned by hand. A portion of the safety wire remained attached to the oil filter. The remainder of the safety wire was lost in the high vegetation at the accident site. The pilot reported that he conducted the airplane’s most recent oil and oil filter change, about one year prior. He estimated that he had flown the airplane about 60 hours since the oil change. He further reported that he was not a mechanic, but he has done maintenance and oil changes on this airplane for a “very long time.” When asked about safety wire and how to apply it, he said he was unaware of specific safety wire guidance, he “just installed it.” A representative from Textron Aviation reported the aircraft manual does not contain safety wire procedures. It is considered a basic knowledge item for a mechanic. In 2005, the FAA Safety Team (FAASTeam) released a fact sheet titled Safety Wire. It states in part: “if you’re doing owner-performed maintenance, make sure that you know what you’re doing, and get a second set of eyes to look at your work after you’re done.”