# NTSB ERA23LA034: Cessna A185E, N36ZN, York, PA, October 22, 2022 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: October 22, 2022, 14:20, time zone not recorded - Place: York, PA - Coordinates: 39.917644, -76.873411 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.9176&lon=-76.8734&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: 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): 106179 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA23LA034 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/106179/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106179 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23LA034 ## Probable cause Oil starvation of the number 1 connecting rod bearings, which resulted in a total loss of engine power. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Fluids: oil](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071020): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid level (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna A185E, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071020/cases.md?model=2072818), [All aircraft, 174 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071020/cases.md) - [Engine (reciprocating): recip eng cyl section](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058530): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna A185E, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058530/cases.md?model=2072818), [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-cruise: Powerplant sys/comp malf/fail](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340); cases with it: [Cessna A185E, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340/sequence.md?model=2072818), [All aircraft, 820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340/sequence.md) - [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna A185E, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=2072818), [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 A185E, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=2072818), [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 A185E, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2072818), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot had just purchased the airplane and was flying it to his home airport. He made a stop, added fuel, checked the oil, and continued to his home airport. About an hour after departure, he noticed a drop in oil pressure and then heard a clanking sound in the engine before it lost total power. He diverted to the nearest airport but landed short of the runway in a field. The airplane slid into the airport perimeter fence, resulting in substantial damage to the left wing. Postaccident examination of the engine revealed that it contained only 2 quarts of oil out of a total capacity of 12 quarts. There were oil leaks around all the cylinder pushrod housings, with the leak around the No. 1 cylinder being the worst. All spark plugs were dark, indicating oil burn. The No. 1 connecting rod was fractured and separated from the crankshaft, and the connecting rod bearings were destroyed. Heat distress signatures were found on the crankshaft connecting rod location and the No. 1 connecting rod bearings displayed significant scoring consistent with a lack of oil lubrication. Based on this information, it is likely the loss of engine power was the result of oil starvation to the connecting rod bearings. ## Factual narrative On October 22, 2022, at 1420 eastern daylight time, a Cessna A185E, N36ZN, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near York, Pennsylvania. 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 purchased the airplane a few days before the accident flight and was flying it back to Cottonwood Farm Airport (87VA), Crozet, Virginia. He took off from Auburn/Lewiston Municipal Airport (LEW), Auburn/Lewiston, Maine, and flew to Kingston-Ulster Airport (20N), Kingston, New York, for fuel. He stated that he topped off the fuel tanks and checked the oil before departing 20N. About 1 hour into the flight, the engine started running rough, and he noticed a drop in oil pressure. He then heard “clanking” in the engine, and it lost total power. He diverted to York Airport (THV), York, Pennsylvania, but landed short of the runway, in a field, and the airplane slid into the airport perimeter fence. Postaccident examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that the airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The left main landing gear separated, and the right main landing gear was bent aft 90°. Examination of the engine by an airframe and powerplant mechanic revealed that the engine oil indicated 2 quarts on the engine dipstick (the engine held 12 quarts of oil). There were small oil leaks around all cylinder push rod housings, with the leak around the No. 1 cylinder housing being the worst. All the spark plugs were dark, indicating oil burn. The No. 1 connecting rod was fractured off the crankshaft. The No. 1 crankshaft journal was black and discolored. No other anomalies were noted. The most recent annual inspection was completed on August 25, 2022. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N36ZN](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N36ZN), registered now, S/N 18501830, built 1970 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA A185E - Registry model: [Cessna A185E](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-a185e) (registry code 2072818) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-520-D](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-d) (registry code 17236, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18501830 - Airframe hours: 4410 - Engines: Continental IO-520-D 300 hp reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 25, 2022 - Departed: 20N, Kingston, NY - Destination: 8W2, New Market, VA - Airport: THV, York, runway 35, 5,188 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 49; injuries: minor; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review October 19, 2022; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 17,000 total, 11 in this make and model, 14,000 as pilot in command, 20 in the last 90 days, 11 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 37 °F - Altimeter: 30.21 inHg - Observed at: THV - METAR: KTHV 221853Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR 21/03 A3021 RMK AO2 SLP234 T02060028 ## 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 20221022016769A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20221022016769A), Oct 22, 2022: Cessna A185E, Thomasville, PA, Substantial damage. Aircraft engine lost oil pressure causing catastrophic engine failure. Pilot located nearest airport (thv) and attempted an emergency landing. Aircraft… ## Docket (6 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 31, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106179. 6.7 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14841439&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record a�� telephone interview, pilot (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 116 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14841556&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Record%20of%20Interview-Rel.pdf - FAA inspector's statement (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 140 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14948254&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandom-Rel.pdf - Engine examination summary (mechanic) (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 872 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14841449&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=mechanic%20report-Rel.pdf - Maintenance records (item 5, PDF, 4 pages, 2.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14939929&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Maintenance%20logbooks_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Investigative photos (item 6, PDF, 4 pages, 1.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14841263&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigative%20Photo%27s-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.