# NTSB ERA16LA157: Cessna 175, N6792E, Wartburg, TN, April 14, 2016 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: April 14, 2016, 15:30 local (19:30 UTC) - Place: Wartburg, TN - Coordinates: 36.106666, -84.595558 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.1067&lon=-84.5956&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 - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: Textron Aviation, FAA/FSDO, Continental Motors - NTSB case key (mKey): 93013 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA16LA157 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/93013/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=93013 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA16LA157 ## Probable cause Catastrophic engine failure due to a fatigue fracture of the No. 6 connecting rod cap. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Engine (reciprocating): recip eng cyl section](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058530): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Fatigue/wear/corrosion (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 175A, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058530/cases.md?model=2072504), [All aircraft, 373 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058530/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 175A, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=2072504), [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 175A, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=2072504), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490); cases with it: [Cessna 175A, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=2072504), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md) ## Analysis During a cross-country flight, the student pilot noticed the engine sputter and the engine rpm drop to 1,000. He pushed the mixture to its full rich position and pumped the throttle with no response from the engine. He then attempted to restart the engine to no avail and subsequently performed a forced landing on a highway. During the landing, the airplane impacted a tree, resulting in substantial damage. Postaccident examination of the engine revealed that the No. 6 connecting rod cap was fractured from fatigue that originated at the oil transfer hole in the center of the rod cap. ## Factual narrative On April 14, 2016, about 1530 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 175, N6792E, was substantially damaged during a forced landing after a loss of engine power to a highway in Wartburg, Tennessee. The student pilot sustained minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the instructional flight conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91, which originated at Rockwood Municipal Airport (RKW), Rockwood, Tennessee, about 1500, destined for Williamsburg-Whitley County Airport (BYL), Williamsburg, Kentucky The purpose of the flight was for the student pilot to complete a solo cross-country flight. The student pilot stated he performed a preflight inspection and engine runup before departure. The takeoff and climb were normal, however shortly after leveling off at 3,500 ft above mean sea level, the engine began to sputter. Then while checking the fuel mixture and fuel gauges, engine rpm dropped to about 1,000. After attempting restart and unable to regain power to the engine, the pilot performed a forced landing on a highway. During the landing, the airplane struck and then came to rest against a tree. According to a first responder, there was fuel leaking from the airplane when emergency personnel arrived on scene. Photos provided by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that the airplane had incurred substantial damage. The right wing and engine were separated from the airplane; the outboard portion of the left wing was impact damaged, and the fuselage, and empennage, displayed impact damage. During an engine examination, it was noted that cylinders Nos. 2, 4, and 6 sustained impact damage. The crankcase was fractured between cylinders No. 5 and 6. The left and right magnetos produced spark at all leads when placed on a test stand. The spark plugs showed normal wear per the Champion aviation check-a-plug comparison chart. Fractured engine and metal components were found in the oil sump. Further examination of the engine revealed the No. 6 connecting rod cap was fractured. A metallurgical examination of the connecting rod cap revealed a fatigue fracture that originated at the oil transfer hole in the center of the rod cap. The closest weather reporting facility was Oak Ridge, Tennessee (OQT), about 18 miles east of the accident site. At 1453, weather included wind 110 at 5 knots; visibility 10 statute miles; clouds and sky condition, few at 5,000 ft; temperature, 22° C; dew point, 8° C; and a barometric altimeter setting of 30.13 inHg. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6792E](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6792E-2018-03-16), registration cancelled 2018-03-16, S/N 56292, built 1959 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 175 (A) - Registry model: [Cessna 175A](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-175a) (registry code 2072504) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental GO-300 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-go-300-series) (registry code 17024, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 56292 - Year built: 1959 - Engines: CONT MOTOR GO-300 SERIES 175 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Annual, February 29, 2016 - Departed: RKW, ROCKWOOD, TN - Destination: BYL, WILLIAMSBURG, KY - Equipment: Handheld GPS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 32; injuries: minor; student; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 52 total, 11.3 in this make and model, 8.8 as pilot in command, 18.2 in the last 90 days, 7.6 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 110° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 30.12 inHg - Observed at: OQT, 18 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 20160414002789A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20160414002789A), Apr 14, 2016: Cessna 175A, Wartburg, TN, Destroyed. Flight level 3200 feet, engine sputter and engine RPM dropped to 0. Area of rough terrian. Pilot landed on state highway 27. Then exited the road to avoid auto… ## Other investigations on N6792E (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 UNK64X3554](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/UNK64X3554), Aug 23, 1964: Cessna 175 (N6792E), Cohutta, GA, substantial damage ## Docket (7 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 9, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=93013. 9.3 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 8 pages, 1.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=5213354&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%206120%20form_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Pilot's statement (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 424 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=5213394&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot%20statement_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Witness statements (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 191 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=5213711&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Witness%20statement_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photo array (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 263 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=5213933&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-Rel.pdf - Release of aircraft wreckage, NTSB form 6120.15 (item 5, PDF, 1 page, 1.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=5214278&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Signed%20release_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Statement of party representatitives to NTSB investigation (item 6, PDF, 2 pages, 3.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=5540727&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Party%20forms_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Metallurgical report a�� Continental motors inc. (item 7, PDF, 3 pages, 1.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=5541279&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=CMI%20Metallurgical%20Report-Rel.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.