# NTSB CHI96LA213: Cessna 172, N3823S, Conway, MI, June 23, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 23, 1996, 15:30 local (19:30 UTC) - Place: Conway, MI - Coordinates: 45.43098, -84.859985 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.4310&lon=-84.8600&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 18, 1997 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 10285 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI96LA213 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/10285/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI96LA213 ## Probable cause A crack in the intake manifold which led to oil exhaustion and subsequent piston failure. A factor was the soft field. ## 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 - induction air control,intake manifold - cracked (cause) - fluid,oil - exhaustion (cause) - engine assembly,piston - failure - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - soft (contributing factor) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he was in cruise flight at 3000 feet when he noticed an engine vibration and a mist of oil on the aircraft's windshield. The engine stopped a minute later. He set up for a forced landing in a field while he tried restarting the engine. The engine restarted and ran at about 50 percent power before it stopped again. The aircraft was at about 800 feet above ground level and on final approach for a corn field. The pilot reported that he touched down on the main wheels first. The ground was soft and the nose wheel dug into the ground. The aircraft tipped up on its nose and left wing before settling back down on its main landing gear. During the examination of the engine, it was determined that there was a hole in the crankcase near the number five cylinder, and no oil remained in the crankcase. The number five connecting rod was bent and the piston and pin were missing. A crack in the intake manifold with fuel stains below the crack was found. ## Factual narrative On June 23, 1996, at 1530 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172, N3823S, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing due to loss of engine power near Conway, Michigan. During the emergency landing in a corn field, the airplane tipped up on its nose and left wing, damaging the left wing spar. The commercial pilot and one passenger reported no injuries. The 14 CFR Part 91 flight departed Riverview Airport, Jenison, Michigan, en route to Mackinac Island, Michigan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The pilot reported that he was in cruise flight at 3000 feet when he noticed an engine vibration and a mist of oil on the aircraft's windshield. The engine stopped a minute later. He set up for a forced landing in a field while he tried restarting the engine. The engine restarted and ran at about 50 percent power before it stopped again. The aircraft was at about 800 feet above ground level and on final approach for a corn field. The pilot reported that he touched down on the main wheels first. The ground was soft and the nose wheel dug into the ground. The aircraft tipped up on its nose and left wing before settling back down on its main landing gear. During the examination of the engine it was determined that there was a whole in the crankcase near the number five cylinder, and no oil remained in the crankcase. The number five connecting rod was bent and the piston and pin were missing. A crack in the intake manifold with fuel stains below the crack was found. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3823S](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3823S), registered now, S/N 17251023, built 1963 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172 - Registry model: [Cessna 172E](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172e) (registry code 2072412) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Franklin 6V 350 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/franklin-6v-350-series) (registry code 27043, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17251023 - Airframe hours: 2801 - Engines: Franklin 6A4-165-B3 215 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Accurate Automotive - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 1, 1996, 40 hours before - Departed: 08C, JENISON, MI - Destination: Y84, MACKINAC ISLAND, MI ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 24; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 1,800 total, 400 in this make and model, 1,650 as pilot in command, 150 in the last 90 days, 60 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 350° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 9,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: PLN, 20 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 19960623019769A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960623019769A), Jun 23, 1996: Cessna 172, Petoskey, MI, Substantial damage. Lost power. Landed in a field. Oil on windshield. (-23) engine failure, 1660 hr, smoh, pumping oil on windshield - engine failed. Landed in a field. 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.