# NTSB CHI02LA179: Waltz RV-8, N877TC, Omaha, NE, June 30, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 30, 2002, 12:30 local (17:30 UTC) - Place: Omaha, NE - Coordinates: 41.195835, -96.11222 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.1958&lon=-96.1122&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 2, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA- Lincoln FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 55119 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI02LA179 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/55119/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=55119 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI02LA179 ## Probable cause A loss of engine power due to a loose connecting rod cap bolt and the resulting fatigue failure of the connecting rod cap. A related factor was the unsuitable terrain. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - mech failure/malf, cruise - engine assembly,connecting rod bolt - loose (cause) - engine assembly,connecting rod cap - fatigue (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - Gear collapsed, landing - roll - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - encountered, pilot in command (cause) - terrain condition - crop (contributing factor) ## Analysis The aircraft sustained substantial damage during a forced landing following a loss of engine power. The pilot reported the airplane experienced a propeller overspeed condition followed by a fluctuation in oil pressure. The pilot stated the engine started "banging" and lost power a few minutes later. The pilot performed a forced landing to a bean field, during which the main landing gear collapsed. Inspection of the engine revealed the number four engine cylinder connecting rod cap and cap bolts had fractured. A metallurgical examination revealed that the nut of one of the connecting rod cap bolts was partially engaged. The connecting rod cap showed evidence of fatigue cracking along the fracture surface. Fracture features of both connecting rod cap bolts indicated the bolts had separated due to overload. ## Factual narrative On June 30, 2002, at 1230 central daylight time, an amateur-built Waltz RV-8, N877TC, owned and piloted by an airline transport pilot, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing to a soybean field near Omaha, Nebraska. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal flight was operating under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91 without a flight plan. The pilot and his passenger reported no injuries. The flight originated at Creve Couer Airport, St. Louis, Missouri, at 0950 and had the intended destination of Millard Airport (MLE), Omaha, Nebraska. The pilot reported the airplane experienced a propeller overspeed condition during a descent, with the propeller speed increasing to 3,170 revolutions per minute (rpm). The oil pressure subsequently began to fluctuate between 17 and 26 pounds per square inch (psi). The pilot noted he monitored engine indications for approximately two minutes and did not observe any changes in engine condition. The pilot stated that "loud banging noises began emanating from the engine area" and that other pilot's could hear the sound over the airplane's radio. The pilot reported that the engine lost power about 20 seconds after the "banging" noise began. The pilot stated he picked a field for an emergency landing into the wind. The pilot noted the gear collapsed on touchdown and the airplane slid approximately 150 feet before coming to a stop. A Federal Aviation Administration airworthiness inspector conducted the on-scene examination of the engine. The examination revealed the engine case was damaged near the number four engine cylinder. A subsequent teardown examination of the engine revealed the number four connecting rod cap and the connecting rod cap bolts had fractured. A portion of a connecting rod bolt was found impacted into the bottom of another piston. The number four connecting rod bolts and connecting rod cap were sent to the NTSB investigator-in-charge (IIC) for further examination. The IIC submitted the artifacts to Packer Engineering Inc., Naperville, Illinois, for a materials laboratory examination. The examination revealed that the nut on one of the connecting rod cap bolts was partially engaged. The connecting rod cap showed evidence of fatigue cracking on both the inner and outer edges of the fracture. Fracture features of both connecting rod cap bolts indicated the bolts had separated due to overload. The materials laboratory factual report is included with the docket material associated with this accident report. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N877TC](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N877TC), registered now, S/N 80775, built 2001 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Waltz RV-8 - Registry model: [Waltz Joe A RV-8](https://openairdocs.org/model/waltz-joe-a-rv-8) (registry code 05608QA) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 80775 - Airframe hours: 222 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360-A1B6 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, April 15, 2002, 35 hours before - Departed: 1H0, St. Louis, MO - Destination: MLE, Omaha, NE - Airport: MLE, Millard Airport ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 50; injuries: none; airline transport, flight engineer, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review June 19, 2002; seat: front; flight hours: 13,000 total, 222 in this make and model, 9,000 as pilot in command, 125 in the last 90 days, 32 in the last 30 days, 10 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 190° at 7 knots - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Temperature: 93 °F, dew point 68 °F - Altimeter: 30.01 inHg - Observed at: OFF, 17 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 20020630027729A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020630027729A), Jun 30, 2002: Amtr RV8, Papillion, NE, Substantial damage. (-23) On June 30, 2002, at approximately 1225 CDT, waltz RV-8, N877TC, sustained substantial damage as a result of an emergency landing 4 miles south of… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 12, 2003, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=55119. 1.9 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 405 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40448479&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Pilot Report (item 2, .PDF, 64 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40201883&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Report-Master.PDF - FAA Statement (item 3, .PDF, 60 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40448480&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Statement-Master.PDF - Packer Engineering Statement (item 4, .PDF, 10 photos, 1.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40448481&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Packer%20Engineering%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.