# NTSB FTW96LA116: Cessna 172K, N7358G, Hedley, TX, February 11, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 11, 1996, 17:30 local (23:30 UTC) - Place: Hedley, TX - Location: 34.8674° N, 100.6590° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Hedley, TX, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.8674&lon=-100.6590&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 9, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 19760 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW96LA116 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/19760/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW96LA116 ## Probable cause the failure of maintenance personnel to properly torque the connecting rod bolts. A factor was the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - mech failure/malf, cruise - normal - engine assembly,connecting rod bolt - undertorqued (cause) - maintenance,overhaul,major - improper, other maintenance personnel (cause) - Forced landing, emergency landing - Nose over, emergency landing - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) ## Analysis During a cross country flight, the airplane's engine seized. During the emergency landing the 'front wheel caught' in some sandy soil and the airplane nosed over. An examination of the engine revealed that one connecting rod bolt nut from the #4 connecting rod was off the bolt and found loose in the crankcase. The #4 piston pin boss was broken and the piston pin was found loose in the crankcase. The #4 connecting rod bearings were destroyed. The connecting rod bolts on the #1 and #2 connecting rods were not at the prescribed torque. ## Factual narrative On February 11, 1996, at 1730 central standard time, a Cessna 172K, N7358G, was substantially damaged during a forced landing near Hedley, Texas. The instrument rated private pilot and his passenger were not injured. The airplane was being operated by the owner as a personal flight under Title 14 CFR Part 91. The flight departed Memphis, Texas, at 1715. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the cross country flight for which a flight plan was not filed. The pilot reported that he was returning to Amarillo, Texas, from Memphis, Texas. The pilot stated that, "the engine suddenly started making a clanging noise, about five seconds later, a big bang, [and] the propeller stopped, straight up and down." An emergency landing to a hay field was made. During the landing the "front wheel caught" in some sandy soil and the airplane flipped over. The engine was examined at Horton Aero Services, Lubbock, Texas, on February 15, 1996. The examination revealed that one connecting rod bolt nut from the #4 connecting rod was off the bolt and found loose in the crankcase. The #4 piston pin boss was broken and the piston pin was found loose in the crankcase. The #4 connecting rod bearings were destroyed. The connecting rod bolts on the #1 and #2 connecting rods were not at the prescribed torque. The last major engine overhaul was 35 hours prior to the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7358G](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7358G), registered now, S/N 17259058, built 1970 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172K - Registry model: [Cessna 172K](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172k) (registry code 2072430) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17259058 - Airframe hours: 5884 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-E2D 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Troy Harrison - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Annual, May 10, 1995 - Departed: F21, MEMPHIS, TX - Destination: TDW, AMARILLO, TX ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 56; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 574 total, 240 in this make and model, 45 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 315° at 5 knots - Lowest ceiling: none ## 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 19960211047439A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960211047439A), Feb 11, 1996: Cessna 172K, Hedley, TX, No damage. (-16) This accident was the result of an engine that failed mechanically in flight resulting in a forced landing in a soft field that flipped the aircraft over… 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.