- Date
- November 17, 1989, 15:00 local (23:00 UTC)
- Place
- Van Nuys, CA
- Injuries
- 1 serious, 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N2069QCessna 177RG
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report July 22, 1992
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19891117045759A
- Case key
- 26686
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The incorrect installation of the engine cowl and baffle seals during the installation of the engine following an overhaul.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
Near the end of the first flight following installation of an overhauled engine, the engine siezed after the pilot noticed a rapid drop in oil pressure. After the accident, the left side lower exterior fuselage was found to be covered with fresh oil, with the oil smear originating near the oil breather line. The engine cowl baffle seals were found installed incorrectly. Less than 1 quart of oil was found in the engine sump. On the external rear sides of the #3 & #4 cylinder barrels, an oval area of heat distress was noted. The crankshaft & piston rods exhibited progressive heat distress on all rod bearings and crankshaft journals, with the #1 rod exhibiting the least heat signatures & the #4 the most severe. The #3 rod cap was found loose in the engine; examination of the cap bolts revealed severe necking signatures at the point of tension failure. A micrometer was used to measure the cylinder barrels for roundness. The #3 cyl was found to be outside the factory spec by .002 inches.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N2069Q
- Reported as
- Cessna 177RG
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 177RG0469
- Engine
- Lycoming IO-360-A1B6D, 200 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- William A. Ryan
- Departed
- VNY
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Certificates
- Private, Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Flight hours
- 435 total · 100 in this make and model · 275 as pilot in command · 20 in the last 90 days · 15 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 120° at 8 knots
- Visibility
- 5 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- -0 °F, dew point -0 °F
- Observed at
- VNY, 1 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.