CHI97LA021

The airplane had been flying about 3 minutes when the pilot heard a slapping sound. This sound was followed by a windshield covered with oil, a violent shake from the engine, and smoke in the cockpit. The pilot made a forced landing in field. When the nosewheel touched the field's surface, the airplane nosed over onto its back. An examination of the engine revealed the #2 rod was broken at its crankshaft attachment point. The crankshaft journal was black/blue in color and had multiple grooves around its surface. The bearing was the separated in many pieces of various sizes. These pieces were also black/blue in color. According to the pilot, the engine was overhauled 224 hours before the accident. Paperwork associated with the overhaul showed that the engine was being disassembled due to metal chips in the oil filter and a spun connecting rod bearing on cylinder #3. The engine's overhaul was its first since it was new.

On November 3, 1996, at 1430 central standard time, a Cessna 177A, N30614, piloted by a private pilot, was substantially damaged when it nosed over following a forced landing after experiencing a total loss of engine power. The personal 14 CFR Part 91 flight was not operating on a flight plan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The pilot and two passengers reported no injuries. A third passenger reported minor injuries. The flight departed Kirksville, Missouri, exact time unknown.

According to the pilot's written statement, he heard a "...slapping sound approximately 3 minutes into [the] flight." The sound was followed by oil on the windscreen and "...violent engine shake, [and] smoke in the cockpit. He said the engine stopped running. The pilot said he landed the airplane tail low. Shortly after touching down the airplane's nosewheel touched the landing surface. The airplane's nose gear assembly separated from the airframe and the airplane nosed over.

An on-scene investigation was conducted by a Federal Aviation Administration Principal Maintenance Inspector. The engine's inspection revealed that the number 2 rod was broken at its crankshaft attachment point. The crankshaft journal was dark black/blue in color. The journal had many irregularly shaped groves around it. The connecting rod bearing had separated into many various sized pieces. These pieces were also colored black/blue. The crankshaft oil holes were unobstructed except the number 2 journal. The exit opening had small pieces of black/blue metal in it.

A report found in N30614's engine logbook dated July 1, 1994, showed the engine was disassembled for overhaul. The report showed this engine had been overhauled on July 1, 1994, and mounted on N30614 on July 15, 1994. According to the report, the engine was being "...disassembled... due to metal chips in the oil filter. The report said, "Inspection revealed number 3 rod bearing had spun." This was the engine's first overhaul since it was new. According to the PMI, the engine logbook showed it had 224.0 hours since it was overhauled.