# NTSB ERA09LA481: Cessna 172RG, N6117R, Rockaway, NJ, August 25, 2009

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 25, 2009, 12:15 local (16:15 UTC)
- Place: Rockaway, NJ
- Coordinates: 40.875, -74.281112 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.8750&lon=-74.2811&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Enroute: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 20, 2010
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA / FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 74590
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA09LA481
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/74590/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74590
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA09LA481

## Probable cause

A total loss of engine power due to oil starvation for undetermined reasons.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172RG, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=2072438), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md)
- [Fluids: oil](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071020): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Not specified (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172RG, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071020/cases.md?model=2072438), [All aircraft, 174 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071020/cases.md)
- [Engine (reciprocating): recip eng oil sys](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058550): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Not specified (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172RG, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058550/cases.md?model=2072438), [All aircraft, 130 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058550/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Maneuvering: Powerplant sys/comp malf/fail](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340); cases with it: [Cessna 172RG, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340/sequence.md?model=2072438), [All aircraft, 820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340/sequence.md)
- [Enroute: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172RG, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=2072438), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md)
- [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Cessna 172RG, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=2072438), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md)
- [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 172RG, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2072438), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The certificated flight instructor (CFI) and dual/student pilot were practicing maneuvers when the CFI noticed that the left main gear of the airplane was wet. As he looked for the source of the substance he noticed that the airplane’s oil pressure was critically low and immediately headed back to the airplane’s base. On the way, the engine came “to a halt with the propeller stopping” and the CFI elected to land in an empty section of a mall parking lot. The airplane’s nose landing gear contacted a curb and the right wing impacted a tree before coming to a stop. An examination of the wreckage revealed the fluid on the wheel to be oil leaking from the engine, which covered the bottom and empennage section of the airplane. A teardown examination of the engine found the No. 3 and No. 4 pistons with damage consistent with overheating and oil starvation. The lower portion of the No. 3 piston was destroyed. There was no internal or external evidence with the engine to account for the oil leak. The engine oil system was examined and found to be unremarkable. The CFI stated that a quart of oil was added, for a total 6.7 quarts of oil in the engine, prior to the accident flight.

## Factual narrative

On August 25, 2009, at 1215 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172RG, N6117R, crashed while making a force landing following loss of engine power in Rockaway, New Jersey. The airplane incurred substantial damage and the certified commercial pilot flight instructor (CFI) sustained minor injuries. The student pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The airplane was operated by Air Fleet Training Systems, under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91, as an instructional flight. The CFI stated, that during pre-flight inspection of the airplane he added one quart of oil to the engine, which had been at 5.7 quarts. He and the student pilot then departed from the Green Lake Airport (4N1), West Milford, New Jersey, and were about an hour into the flight when he noticed the left main wheel was wet. While trouble shooting the situation, he noticed that the engine oil pressure gauge was pointing to the red area, indicating low oil pressure. The CFI took over control of the airplane and retracted the landing gear to improve performance. He turned the airplane directly to their home base at the Essex County Airport (CDW), Caldwell, New Jersey and contacted the controller at CDW to advise of the situation. Minutes after the communication, the engine came “to a halt with the propeller stopping.” The airplane was about 1 mile east of the Rockaway Towne Center Mall, and the CFI elected to land in an empty section of the mall’s parking lot. The airplane’s nose landing gear made contact with a curb, which separated the gear, and the right wing impacted a tree before coming to a full stop. An examination of the wreckage revealed the fluid on the wheel to be oil leaking from the engine, which covered the bottom and empennage section of the airplane. The airplane was powered by a Lycoming O-360-F1A6 engine. The engine had a total time of 3,949 hours and 238 hours since its last overhaul, which occurred on September 28, 2006. A teardown examination of the engine was conducted with National Transportation Safety Board oversight. Several components of the #3 and #4 pistons showed signs of overheating and oil starvation, including the rod arms, bearing rods, and crankshaft attaching points. The #3 cylinder piston rod was found separated from the crankshaft with its crankshaft bearing missing and the lower section of the bearing rod destroyed. The #4 rod bearing showed initial indications of failure due to overheating. There was no internal or external evidence with the engine to account for the oil leak. The engine oil system was examined and found to be unremarkable.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6117R](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6117R-2013-09-17), registration cancelled 2013-09-17, S/N 172RG0087, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172RG
- Registry model: [Cessna 172RG](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172rg) (registry code 2072438) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 172RG0087
- Airframe hours: 6146
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360-F1A6 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Air Fleet Training Systems
- Registered owner: Genesus One Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, March 24, 2009, 50 hours before
- Departed: 4N1, Milford, NJ
- Destination: CDW, Caldwell, NJ

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Flight instructor; age 42; injuries: minor; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review February 10, 2009; seat: left; flight hours: 3,045 total, 169 in this make and model, 2,976 as pilot in command, 283 in the last 90 days, 64 in the last 30 days, 7 in the last 24 hours
- Student pilot; age 39; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review February 28, 2008; seat: right; flight hours: 337 total, 43 in this make and model, 206 as pilot in command, 11 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 63 °F
- Altimeter: 30.14 inHg
- Observed at: CDW, 10 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 20090825049489A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090825049489A), Aug 25, 2009: Cessna 172RG, Rockaway, NJ, Substantial damage. On 08/25/2009 Mr. Fischer was PIC of N6117R, he occupied the left seat, giving Ms. Gittens, a cfi-a student, dual instruction. During an in flight maunever,…

## Other investigations on N6117R (1)

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 MIA81DLA26](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA81DLA26), May 20, 1981: Cessna 172RG (N6117R), Perry, FL, substantial damage

## Docket (11 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 1, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74590. 4.3 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 738 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40332222&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- Other Pertinent Forms and Reports: Excerpts From The Daily Maintenance Log at the Airplane's Base (item 2, .PDF, 58 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40332225&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Other%20Pertinent%20Forms%20and%20Reports%3A%20Excerpts%20From%20The%20Daily%20Maintenance%20Log%20at%20the%20Airplane%27s%20Base-Master.PDF
- Other Pertinent Forms and Reports: Excerpts From the Airplane's Maintenance Records. (item 3, .PDF, 1.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40332237&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Other%20Pertinent%20Forms%20and%20Reports%3A%20Excerpts%20From%20the%20Airplane%27s%20Maintenance%20Records.-Redacted.PDF
- Other Pertinent Forms and Reports: Engine Teardown Notes. (item 4, .PDF, 57 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40332224&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Other%20Pertinent%20Forms%20and%20Reports%3A%20Engine%20Teardown%20Notes.-Master.PDF
- Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 (item 5, .PDF, 98 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40334273&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Release%20of%20Aircraft%20Wreckage,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.15-Redacted.PDF
- Photo 1) View of the Wreckage. Photo Provide by the Federal Aviation Administration. (item 6, .PDF, 251 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40334255&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201)%20View%20of%20the%20Wreckage.%20Photo%20Provide%20by%20the%20Federal%20Aviation%20Administration.-Master.PDF
- Photo 2) Front View of Engine. Photo Provide by the Federal Aviation Administration. (item 7, .PDF, 931 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40334256&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202)%20Front%20View%20of%20Engine.%20Photo%20Provide%20by%20the%20Federal%20Aviation%20Administration.-Master.PDF
- Photo 3) Top View of Engine. (item 8, .PDF, 198 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40334257&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%203)%20Top%20View%20of%20Engine.-Master.PDF
- Photo 4) Rear View of Engine. (item 9, .PDF, 186 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40334258&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%204)%20Rear%20View%20of%20Engine.-Master.PDF
- Photo 5) View of the Number 3 Connecting Rod (item 10, .PDF, 214 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40334259&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%205)%20View%20of%20the%20Number%203%20Connecting%20Rod-Master.PDF
- Photo 6) View of the Number 4 Connecting Rod (item 11, .PDF, 246 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40334260&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%206)%20View%20of%20the%20Number%204%20Connecting%20Rod-Master.PDF

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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