- Date
- July 29, 1992, 14:30 local (19:30 UTC)
- Place
- Bowlus, MN
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N22923Cessna 150H
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report June 11, 1993
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19920729028019A
- Case key
- 15501
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The fracture of the number four cylinder's connecting rod cap.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The airplane experienced a total loss of engine power while in cruise flight. The pilot attempted to land on a nearby road, but was unable to see powerlines and a utility pole obstructing his glide path due to a film of oil on the wind shield from the ruptured engine case. The airplane struck the powerlines and pole and landed in an adjacent field. Examination of the engine disclosed a fractured connecting rod cap and rod cap bolt in the number 4 cylinder. Both of the castellated nuts were gone from the rod cap bolts. One of the bolts had remnants of a cotter key remaining in the keyway, the other bolt did not. One castellated nut fitting a rod cap bolt was found in the oil pan. The nut's normally sharp edges were worn smooth and shiny, giving the appearance the nut had been in the sump for a long period of time. The engine's last major overhaul was 946 service hours prior to the accident flight.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N22923
- Reported as
- Cessna 150H
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 15068617
- Airframe hours
- 2,976
- Engine
- Continental O-200A, 100 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Buffalo Aircraft Sales
- Registered owner
- Buffalo Aircraft Sales
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility
- Last inspection
- Annual · December 27, 1991 · 161 hours before
- Departed
- VVV · Ortonville, MN
- Destination
- LXL · Little Falls, MN
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 26
- Certificates
- Private, Foreign
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 455 total · 157 in this make and model · 324 as pilot in command · 160 in the last 90 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 40 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 70 °F, dew point 55 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.