# NTSB CHI85FEX02: Cessna 310C, N1773H, Greenfield, IN, June 9, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Final report
- Date: June 8, 1985, 21:07 local (Jun 9, 1985, 02:07 UTC)
- Place: Greenfield, IN
- Coordinates: 39.789463, -85.769035 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.7895&lon=-85.7690&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 3 serious
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 12900
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI85FEX02
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/12900/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI85FEX02

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power(partial) - mech failure/malf, cruise - normal
  - engine assembly,bearing - failure,total (cause)
  - propeller feathering - performed, pilot in command
  - propeller feathering - not maintained, pilot in command
  - propeller feathering - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - engine assembly,other - overtemperature (contributing factor)
  - aircraft performance,two or more engines - undetermined (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - landing light(s) - inoperative (contributing factor)
  - wheels up landing

## Analysis

WHILE EN ROUTE, THE L ENG SUDDENLY LOST POWER & WOULD NOT RESTART, SO THE PLT FEATHERED THE L PROP. AFTER LETTING IT COOL APRX 5 MIN, HE TRIED RESTARTING IT AGAIN, BUT STILL WAS UNABLE. HE STATED HE THOUGHT HE THEN SECURED (FEATHERED) THE L ENG. THE PLT DIVERTED TOWARD INDIANAPOLIS. HE NOTED THAT THE R ENG BEGAN TO OVERHEAT & LOSE POWER. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT CRASH LANDED IN A CORN FLD AT NGT WITH THE LNDG GEAR RETRACTED & W/O LNDG LGTS (LGTS WOULD NOT EXTEND). AN EXAMREVEALED FUEL WAS REMAINING IN ALL TANKS. SHERIFF PSNL HAD MOVED THE FUEL SELECTORS WHEN THEY ARRIVED, SO THE SELECTOR POSITIONS WERE NOT VERIFIED. FOUND L THROTTLE FULL FWD, L MIX CTL MID-RANGE, L PROP CTL FULL LOW RPM (NOT FEATHERED). THE L PROP WAS NOT FEATHERED; BUT THE R PROP WAS FEATHERED (PLT SAID HE FEATHERED IT JUST BEFORE IMPACT). A TEARDOWN OF THE L ENG REVEALED THE #4 MAIN BEARING HAD FAILED; BOTTOM HALF OF OIL COOLER WAS 95% BLOCKED FROM SOFT METAL CONTAMIN- ATION, PROP GOV MOUNTING GASKET WAS 75% BLOCKED BY METAL CONTAMINATION; BUT THE L ENG CRANKSHAFT WOULD STILL TURN.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N1773H](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1773H-2013-07-09), registration cancelled 2013-07-09, S/N 35873, built 1959 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 310C
- Registry model: [Cessna 310C](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-310c) (registry code 2074210) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental I0-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-i0-470-series) (registry code 17027, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 35873
- Airframe hours: 52944
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-470-D 260 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Herbert . Oakley
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, June 10, 1984, 0 hours before
- Departed: STL, ST.LOUIS, MO
- Destination: CMH, COLUMBUS, OH

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 62; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 2,445 total, 1,227 in this make and model, 2,296 as pilot in command, 25 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 200° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 70 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: IND, 23 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 19850608024879A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850608024879A), Jun 8, 1985: Cessna 310C, Greenfield, IN, Substantial damage. Unable to restart left engine and maintain altitude. Left propeller not feathered for emergency landing at night.

## Other investigations on N1773H (2)

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.

- [NTSB CHI76FEK25](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI76FEK25), Aug 7, 1976: Cessna 310 (N1773H), Columbus, OH, substantial damage
- [NTSB CHI73FEK09](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI73FEK09), Oct 27, 1972: Cessna 310C (N1773H), Colombus, OH, substantial damage

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.

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