# NTSB FTW96LA396: Coursey Prostar PT-2, N822CF, Rio Rancho, NM, September 22, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 22, 1996, 14:45 local (20:45 UTC) - Place: Rio Rancho, NM - Coordinates: 35.269428, -106.659072 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.2694&lon=-106.6591&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 23, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 19987 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW96LA396 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/19987/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW96LA396 ## Probable cause fatigue failure of the engine oil cooler coil, which resulted in an oil leak, oil starvation, loss of engine power, and a subsequent forced landing. Factors relating to the accident were: the proximity of a truck on the highway and soft terrain that was encountered during the emergency 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 - lubricating system,oil cooler - fatigue (cause) - fluid,oil - leak (cause) - fluid,oil - starvation (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - In flight collision with terrain/water, emergency landing - object - vehicle (contributing factor) - maneuver to avoid obstructions - performed, pilot in command - terrain condition - roadway/highway - proper alignment - not possible - terrain condition - soft (contributing factor) ## Analysis According to the pilot, while on a local area flight, the engine started to lose oil pressure, and subsequently, it lost power. The pilot elected to land on a westerly heading on a 2-lane paved road. On short final, the pilot noticed a white pick up truck approaching in the opposite direction. While maneuvering to avoid the pick up truck, a high rate of descent developed, and the airplane touched down hard. The airplane ground looped, when the left main gear sank on the soft sand while the right tire touched down on the pavement. The airplane came to a stop on the shoulder of the road facing north. Examination of the engine by an FAA airworthiness inspector and the owner of the airplane revealed a fatigue crack in the oil cooler coil, which allowed oil to be pumped overboard. ## Factual narrative On September 22, 1996, at 1445 mountain daylight time, a Coursey Prostar PT-2 homebuilt airplane, N822CF, was substantially damaged during a forced landing near Rio Rancho, New Mexico. The airplane, owned and operated by a private owner, was being operated under Title 14 CFR Part 91. The private pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight for which a flight plan was not filed. The local flight departed from the Double Eagle II Airport, near Albuquerque, New Mexico, at approximately 1400. According to the pilot, while on a local area flight, the engine started to lose oil pressure and subsequently lost power. The pilot elected to land on a westerly heading on a 2-lane paved road. On short final, the pilot noticed a white pick up truck approaching in the opposite direction. While maneuvering to avoid the pick up truck, a high rate of descent developed and the airplane touched down hard. The airplane ground looped when the left main gear sank on the soft sand while the right tire touched down on the pavement. The airplane came to a stop on the shoulder of the road facing north. Examination of the airplane by an FAA inspector confirmed that the left wing and airframe sustained structural damage, and the left main landing gear collapsed. Examination of the engine by an FAA airworthiness inspector and the owner of the airplane revealed a fatigue crack in the oil cooler coil which allowed the oil to be pumped over board. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N822CF](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N822CF-2016-09-06), registration cancelled 2016-09-06, S/N PT-1179 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Coursey PROSTAR PT-2 (PROSTAR PT) - Registry model: [Coursey Richard J PROSTAR PT-2](https://openairdocs.org/model/coursey-richard-j-prostar-pt-2) (registry code 05628A5) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: PT-1179 - Airframe hours: 43 - Engines: Subaru EA-81 85 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Richard J. Coursey - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, July 21, 1996, 43 hours before - Departed: AEF, ALBUQUERQUE, NM ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 54; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 101 total, 26 in this make and model, 55 as pilot in command, 6 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 230° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 41 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: ABQ, 15 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 19960922040009A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960922040009A), Sep 22, 1996: Amtr PT2, Rio Rancho, NM, Substantial damage. Local flight. Lost oil pressure. Tried land on road. Blocked by pickup. Swerved. Ground looped. Oil cooler cracked. (-23) due to loss of oil pressure the… 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.