# NTSB CHI04LA183: Cessna 340A, N60PP, Mason City, IA, July 9, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 9, 2004, 11:30 local (16:30 UTC) - Place: Mason City, IA - Coordinates: 43.163055, -93.34111 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.1631&lon=-93.3411&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 30, 2006 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Adminstration - NTSB case key (mKey): 59838 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI04LA183 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/59838/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI04LA183 ## Probable cause The proper touchdown point not obtain/maintained by the pilot following a single-engine approach to landing. Contributing factors were the vacuum pump oil leak, the low oil pressure of the propeller control system, and the unfeathered propeller. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, cruise - engine accessories,vacuum pump - leak (contributing factor) - fluid,oil - low level (cause) - exhaust system,turbocharger - seized - propeller system/accessories,feathering system (contributing factor) - In flight collision with terrain/water, emergency landing - proper touchdown point - not obtained/maintained, pilot in command (cause) - propeller control - low pressure (contributing factor) - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis The airplane touched down short of the landing runway following a loss of right engine oil pressure during cruise flight at 16,000 feet. The pilot stated that with the loss of oil pressure, he could "easily" make it to the destination. While on final approach and in reported visual conditions, the pilot cancelled his instrument rules flight plan and executed a visual approach. On short final, the oil pressure dropped to zero. He then shutdown the right engine and was not able to get the right engine propeller feathered. He touched down about 7 feet short of the runway. Examination of the airplane revealed that the vacuum line and wing boot deice lines were full of oil. The right engine turbocharger was "seized-up." Examination of the turbocharger bearings and shaft did not show evidence of overheating. The turbocharger bearings and shaft displayed evidence of circumferential wear consistent with normal operation. The right engine driven vacuum pump was "full" of oil and contained an internal oil separator. ## Factual narrative On July 9, 2004, at 1130 central daylight time, a Cessna 340A, N60PP, received substantial damage on impact with terrain during approach to Mason City Municipal (MCW), Mason City, Iowa. The pilot shut down the right engine after a loss of right engine oil pressure and landed short of runway 35. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The 14 CFR Part 91 business flight was operating on an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan. The commercial pilot reported no injuries. The flight originated from Goshen Municipal Airport, Goshen, Indiana, and was en route to MCW. The pilot stated that while en route to his destination at 16,000 feet, he noticed a "slight drop" in oil pressure on the right engine and "immediately" requested a lower altitude so that he could descend to visual meteorological conditions. He initially received a clearance to 14,000 feet and then to 10,000 feet, which put him "in good visual conditions." The oil pressure continued to drop "very slowly," and he determined he could "easily" make it to his destination. He received clearance to descend to 4,000 feet where he had MCW in sight and cancelled his IFR flight plan. He still had oil pressure, and he configured the airplane for landing. On short final, the oil pressure dropped to zero. He shutdown the right engine and was not able to get the propeller feathered. The pilot stated that the airplane experienced a hard landing and was able to taxi clear of the runway. The airplane was towed to a fixed base operator. Inspection of the accident site by the Federal Aviation Administration revealed that the airplane touched down about 7 feet short of runway 35. The right propeller was not in the feathered position. The airplane was recovered by Myers Aviation, Oshkosh, Wisconsin, where the right engine, a Teledyne Continental Motors, TSIO-520-ND, serial number R-228402-R, was inspected by an airframe and power plant mechanic. The mechanic reported that the right engine oil quantity was "just over 4 quarts." He added 3 more quarts in order to perform a ground run of the engine and investigate the oil pressure problem. The ground run revealed that the oil pressure was normal, the oil temperature was normal, the cylinder head temperature was normal, and the magneto check was normal. He did not run the engine past 1,700 rpm in order to avoid a propeller strike due to a flat landing gear strut. The mechanic stated that during removal of the engines and wings, he noticed that the vacuum line and wing boot deice lines were "full" of oil. He removed the right engine oil filter and no metal was noted. He checked the right engine turbocharger and found that it was "seized-up." The right engine driven vacuum pump was identified by the mechanic as a Pesco 207, type B-12, part number 207-JA, serial number DG-22308. The pump data tag listed "Pump Eng'R'Ng Service Corp., Cleveland, Ohio. The mechanic stated that this pump was "full" of oil, the pump drive shaft was sheared, and the pump contained an internal oil separator. Examination of the turbocharger bearings and shaft did not show evidence of blue colored discoloration. The turbocharger bearings and shaft displayed evidence of circumferential wear consistent with normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N60PP](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N60PP), registered now, S/N 340A0073, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 340A - Registry model: [Cessna 340A](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-340a) (registry code 2076405) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-520-series) (registry code 17040, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 340A-0073 - Airframe hours: 2939.3 - Engines: Teledyne Continental TSIO-520-NB 335 hp reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Registered owner: Flying J II LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, January 1, 2004, 95.8 hours before - Departed: GSH, Goshen, IN - Destination: MCW, Mason City, IN - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: MCW, Mason City Municipal, runway 35, 6,501 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 58; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2; last flight review December 1, 2002; seat: left; flight hours: 2,892 total, 20 in this make and model, 2,740 as pilot in command, 195 in the last 90 days, 45 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day - Wind: 20° at 12 knots - Visibility: 5 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 400 ft broken - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 inHg - Observed at: MCW ## 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 20040709015609A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040709015609A), Jul 9, 2004: Cessna 340A, Mason City, IA, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot reported that the right engine was losing oil pressure, and then on final approach to mcw the oil pressure was 0 so he shut the engine down. A hard… 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.