# NTSB ERA11LA242: Wsk-Mielec AN-2, N122AN, Loxley, AL, April 11, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 11, 2011, 12:16 local (17:16 UTC) - Place: Loxley, AL - Coordinates: 30.584167, -87.788055 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.5842&lon=-87.7881&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 17, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 78863 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA11LA242 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/78863/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=78863 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA11LA242 ## Probable cause A loss of engine power due to internal failure. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Engine (reciprocating)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Wsk-Mielec AN-2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500/cases.md?model=9810101), [All aircraft, 497 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Wsk-Mielec AN-2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=9810101), [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: [Wsk-Mielec AN-2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=9810101), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Wsk-Mielec AN-2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=9810101), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the pilot, during cruise flight the engine began to run rough and lose power. He heard a loud metallic sound; the engine vibrated violently and then lost power. He performed a forced landing to a farm field, and the airplane nosed over in the soft terrain, resulting in substantial damage to the wings. A postaccident inspection revealed that the crankshaft would not rotate. An internal inspection of the cylinders and spark plugs did not reveal a reason for the power loss. The oil system was examined and there were large amounts of metal particles in the oil. Due to a lack of suitable equipment and facilities, further disassembly of the engine was not attempted. ## Factual narrative On April 11, 2011, about 1216 central daylight time, a WSK-Meilec AN-2, N122AN, was substantially damaged following a loss of engine power and forced landing near Loxley, Alabama. The certificated commercial pilot and two passengers were not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by Vertol Systems Company, Inc. under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91, as a personal flight. Day, visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated from Fort Walton Beach, Florida (DTL), about 1118, and was destined for De Ridder, Louisiana (DRI). The pilot reported that, while in cruise flight at 1,000 feet above ground level, the engine began to run rough and lose power. He then heard a loud, "metal-on-metal" sound, the engine vibrated violently, and it subsequently quit completely. The airplane was force landed in a farm field and nosed over in the soft terrain. An inspector with the Federal Aviation Administration responded to the accident site and examined the airplane and engine. Structural damage to the wings was evident. The radial engine was a WSK-PZL model ASZ-621R. The spark plugs were removed and all cylinders were inspected with a borescope. No abnormal characteristics were noted. The engine could not be rotated manually. Examination of the engine oil screens revealed an “extreme” amount of metal particles in the oil supply. Due to a lack of suitable equipment and facilities, a more detailed examination of the engine was not performed. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N122AN](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N122AN-2017-09-07), registration cancelled 2017-09-07, S/N 1G176-31, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: WSK-MIELEC AN-2 - Registry model: [Wsk-Mielec AN-2](https://openairdocs.org/model/wsk-mielec-an-2) (registry code 9810101) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Wsk-Pzl ASZ-621R](https://openairdocs.org/engine/wsk-pzl-asz-621r) (registry code 67276, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 1G176-31 - Airframe hours: 10371 - Engines: WSK-PZL ASZ-621R 1000 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Vertol Systems Company, Inc. - Registered owner: Vertol Systems Company, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: 100 hour, September 1, 2010, 21 hours before - Departed: DTS, Ft Walton Beach, FL - Destination: DRI, De Ridder, LA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 46; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter, airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review February 5, 2010; seat: left; flight hours: 4,888 total, 21 in this make and model, 3,812 as pilot in command, 68 in the last 90 days, 26 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 170° at 13 knots, gusting 21 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 6,500 ft broken - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 72 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 inHg - Observed at: BFM, 25 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 20110411007169A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110411007169A), Apr 11, 2011: Wsk-Mielec AN-2, Loxley, AL, Substantial damage. On April 11, 2011, N112AN departed destin, Florida (dts) headed to temple, Texas. The aircraft was cruising at an altitude of 1000' AGL at approximately 70%… ## Docket (6 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 30, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=78863. 4.4 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 845 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40354714&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - FAA Inspector Statement (item 2, .PDF, 34 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40354715&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%20Statement-Master.PDF - NTSB Record of Conversation w/FAA Inspector (item 3, .PDF, 31 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40354717&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=NTSB%20Record%20of%20Conversation%20w%2FFAA%20Inspector-Master.PDF - Photo 1: Main Wreckage (FAA Digital Photo) (item 4, .PDF, 1.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40354718&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%3A%20Main%20Wreckage%20(FAA%20Digital%20Photo)-Master.PDF - Photo 2: Engine Oil Screen (FAA Digital Photo) (item 5, .PDF, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40354719&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%3A%20Engine%20Oil%20Screen%20(FAA%20Digital%20Photo)-Master.PDF - Photo 3: Engine Oil Supply (FAA Digital Photo) (item 6, .PDF, 882 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40354720&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%203%3A%20Engine%20Oil%20Supply%20(FAA%20Digital%20Photo)-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. --- 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.