# NTSB ERA21LA188: Cessna A188, N731TB, Dover, NC, April 15, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: April 15, 2021, 16:05 local (20:05 UTC) - Place: Dover, NC - Coordinates: 35.323786, -77.366447 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.3238&lon=-77.3664&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 102935 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA21LA188 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/102935/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102935 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA188 ## Probable cause A total loss of engine power due to a shift of a crankshaft main bearing, which resulted in a lack of lubrication and subsequent overheating and failure of the engine crankshaft. Contributing to the accident was the hard touchdown during the forced landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Engine (reciprocating): recip engine power section](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058520): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna A188B, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058520/cases.md?model=2073005), [All aircraft, 233 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058520/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna A188B, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2073005), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna A188B, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=2073005), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Initial climb: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Cessna A188B, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=2073005), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092); cases with it: [Cessna A188B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=2073005), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot departed to familiarize himself with the airplane and to practice maneuvers. A few minutes after takeoff, at an altitude of about 300 ft, he heard a “loud pop,” and the engine lost total power. He looked at the engine gauges and noticed that there was “no fuel flow.” As the propeller windmilled, he unsuccessfully attempted to restart the engine, then elected to perform a forced landing to a nearby corn field. He stated that the landing was “hard.” The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing, right horizontal stabilizer, and elevator. Examination of the engine revealed that the crankshaft No. 2 main bearing had spun, smearing metal into the oil ports on the bearing bore and deforming the bore. Numerous fragments of bearing material were found in the oil sump and inside the case adjacent to the Nos. 1 and 2 cylinders. Based on the available information, it is likely that the shift of the No. 2 main bearing resulted in a lack of lubrication and subsequent failure of the engine crankshaft. The reason for the bearing shift was not determined. ## Factual narrative On April 15, 2021, at 1605 eastern daylight time, a Cessna A188B, N731TB, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Dover, North Carolina. The pilot was not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. According to the pilot, he fueled the airplane before the flight at a private airport. The purpose of the accident flight was for the pilot to familiarize himself with the airplane and to practice maneuvers in advance of the spraying season. A few minutes after takeoff, at an altitude of about 300 ft, he heard a “loud pop,” and the engine lost all power. He looked at the engine gauges and noticed that there was “no fuel flow.” As the propeller windmilled, he unsuccessfully attempted to restart the engine, then elected to perform a forced landing to a nearby corn field. He stated that the landing was “hard.” Examination of the airplane at the accident site by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed leading edge damage and compression buckling of the top of the left wing outboard of the wing strut, that extended aft of the wing spar. The left side of the empennage was buckled just forward of the vertical stabilizer. The right horizontal stabilizer was bent upward slightly about 12 inches from its root. The upper surface of the right elevator was buckled forward of the trim tab. When the inspector attempted to rotate the propeller by hand, she heard a “clink” sound, and the propeller would not rotate. A follow-up examination and disassembly of the engine revealed that the No. 2 main bearing had spun, smearing metal into the oil ports on the bearing bore and deforming the bore. Numerous fragments of bearing material were found in the oil sump and inside the case, adjacent to the Nos. 1 and 2 cylinders. The remaining main bearings were well lubricated and were normal in appearance. The crankshaft was fractured between main journal No. 2 and rod journal No. 2. There were visible signatures of heat distress near the fracture surfaces. All connecting rods remained attached to their journals on the crankshaft and they rotated freely. A review of the airplane’s maintenance records revealed that the most recent annual inspection was performed 9 days (11 flight hours) before the accident. The previous annual inspection was performed in September 2019, 73 flight hours before the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N731TB](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N731TB), registered now, S/N 18803133, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA A188 (B) - Registry model: [Cessna A188B](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-a188b) (registry code 2073005) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18803133 - Year built: 1978 - Airframe hours: 5280 - Engines: Continental IO-550-D26B 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Eastern Flying Services - Registered owner: Eastern Flying Service Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, April 6, 2021, 11 hours before - Departed: PVT, Dover, NC - Equipment: Satellite tracking device, Handheld GPS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 58; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review October 12, 2020; seat: single; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 7,857 total, 10 in this make and model, 7,152 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 310° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 9,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 29.72 inHg - Observed at: ISO, 13.7 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 20210415006069A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210415006069A), Apr 15, 2021: Cessna A188B, Dover, NC, Substantial damage. Pilot stated he heard a loud bang during climb out. He noticed no fuel pressure and engine quite running. He tried to restart the engine but it would not… ## Docket (8 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 19, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102935. 95.9 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 4.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12835788&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=01-01%20NTSB%20form%206120_print_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Statements from pilot and airplane owner (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 466 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12834905&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=01-02%20Pilot%20statement%20and%20Owner%20statement_Redacted-Rel.pdf - FAA inspector record of conversation with pilot (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 90 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12835876&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=01-03%20FAA%20Inspector%20record%20of%20conversation%20with%20Peter%20Grow_print_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record - information from FAA inspector (item 4, PDF, 2 pages, 859 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12835641&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=01-04%20%20MFR%20-%20Information%20from%20FAA%20Inspector_ERA21LA188_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Excerpts from maintenance logbooks (item 5, PDF, 11 pages, 32.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12835798&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=03-01%20Excerpts%20from%20Maintenence_Logbooks_print_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Investigative photographs (item 6, PDF, 6 pages, 6 photos, 3.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12834915&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=06-01-%20photo%20array_ERA21LA188-Rel.pdf - Engine examination report (item 7, PDF, 31 pages, 27 photos, 53.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12835651&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=06-02%20Engine%20Examination%20Report%20N731TB-Rel.pdf - Release of aircraft wreckage, NTSB form 6120.15 (item 8, PDF, 1 page, 524 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12835808&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=09-01%20Wreckage%20Release_N731TB%20sgnd_print_Redacted-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.