# NTSB FTW96LA280: Cessna 182N, N9001G, Truth Or Conseq, NM, June 30, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 30, 1996, 14:00 local (20:00 UTC) - Place: Truth Or Conseq, NM - Coordinates: 33.129844, -107.239234 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.1298&lon=-107.2392&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 18, 1997 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 19887 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW96LA280 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/19887/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW96LA280 ## Probable cause The loss of engine power due to the fatigue failure of the number one piston. 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 - engine assembly,piston - fatigue (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, emergency landing - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) - terrain condition - rock(s)/boulder(s) - Nose over, emergency landing ## Analysis The pilot reported that while cruising at 11,500 feet MSL over 10,000 foot terrain, he 'noticed the oil pressure gauge was reading 0.' Approximately 5 minutes later, the engine 'clanked and started to break apart internally.' Subsequently, a 'few minutes' after that, the engine seized. The pilot executed a forced landing between trees on a rocky ridge top. During the landing roll, the airplane hit a rock, nosed over and came to rest in an inverted position. Postcrash examination of the engine revealed extensive internal damage. Subsequently, the parts were sent to a metallurgical laboratory for analysis. It was determined that the number one piston had developed in-service fatigue cracks and subsequently disintegrated; which in turn caused the general failure of the engine. ## Factual narrative On June 30, 1996, at 1400 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 182N, N9001G, was substantially damaged during a forced landing near Truth or Consequences, New Mexico. The instrument rated private pilot and his passenger were not injured. The aircraft was registered to and operated by a private owner, under Title 14 CFR Part 91. The cross country flight originated from Tucson International Airport near Tucson, Arizona, two hours before the accident. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight and no flight plan was filed for the flight to Amarillo, Texas. The pilot reported in written statements to the FAA and on his Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report that while cruising at 11,500 feet MSL over 10,000 foot terrain, he "noticed the oil pressure gauge was reading 0." Approximately 5 minutes later, the engine "clanked and started to break apart internally." Subsequently, a "few minutes" after that, the engine seized. The pilot landed the airplane between trees, on a rocky ridge top. During the landing roll, the airplane hit a rock, nosed over and came to rest inverted. A post-crash teardown examination of the engine by an FAA inspector revealed extensive internal damage. The parts were sent to a metallurgical laboratory for analysis. It was determined that the number one piston had developed in-service fatigue cracks and subsequently disintegrated (see attached Failure Analysis of Engine Components report). ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9001G](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9001G-1998-05-08), registration cancelled 1998-05-08, S/N 18260541 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 182N - Registry model: [Cessna 182N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182n) (registry code 2072730) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18260541 - Airframe hours: 4180 - Engines: Continental O-470-R 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Bruce Rust - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 19, 1996, 24 hours before - Departed: TUS, TUSCON, AZ - Destination: AMA, AMARILLO, TX ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 39; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 957 total, 176 in this make and model, 29 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 50° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: TCS, 23 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 19960630015629A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960630015629A), Jun 30, 1996: Cessna 182N, Truth Or Conseq, NM, Substantial damage. Lost oil pressure en route. Engine clanked. Broke up internally and siezed. Nosed over landing. NR1 piston broke up 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.