# NTSB MIA00LA215: Cessna 172L, N3875Q, Beaufort, NC, July 10, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 10, 2000, 10:30 local (14:30 UTC) - Place: Beaufort, NC - Coordinates: 34.720535, -76.649719 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.7205&lon=-76.6497&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 25, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 49698 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA00LA215 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/49698/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA00LA215 ## Probable cause A loss of engine power due to failure of the No. 4 cylinder connecting rod during the first flight following engine overhaul for undetermined reasons. Contributing to the accident was unsuitable terrain. ## 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, takeoff - initial climb - engine assembly,connecting rod - failure,total (contributing factor) - engine assembly,connecting rod - undetermined (contributing factor) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - On ground/water collision with object, emergency landing - object - fence - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - encountered, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis The flight was a maintenance test flight following engine overhaul due to a propeller strike on March 10, 2000. No discrepancies were noted by the pilot during the engine run-up or after applying full power to takeoff. While climbing about 100 feet above ground level (agl), the engine experienced a loss of power then quit. The pilot landed the airplane with only 180 feet remaining on the departure runway and applied heavy brakes. The airplane departed the end of the runway, rolled onto wet grass, and unable to stop the airplane, collided with a chain link fence. The engine was disassembled with FAA approval by the facility that overhauled it without government oversight, before NTSB notification. The No. 4 cylinder connecting rod bolts were fractured, and the connecting rod cap was straight. Due to the lack of government oversight during the examination of the failed engine, no components of the engine were examined or retained. An entry in the maintenance records dated July 5, 2000, indicates that the engine was overhauled '...per Lycoming Overhaul Manual (60294-7).' The entry also indicates that the engine was test run, and 'All pressures and temps [sic] within manufacturer specifications....' ## Factual narrative On July 10, 2000, about 1030 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172L, N3875Q, registered to a private individual, collided with a fence during a forced landing at the Micheal J. Smith Field Airport, Beaufort, North Carolina. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the 14 CFR Part 91 maintenance test flight. The airplane was substantially damaged and the commercial-rated pilot and one passenger were not injured. The flight was originating at the time of the occurrence. The pilot stated that she was asked to fly the airplane on a 30-minute test flight prior to returning the airplane to the owner following repairs. The passenger was the Director of Maintenance (DOM) for the facility that had performed the repairs, which included disassembly and overhaul of the engine following a propeller strike which occurred on March 10, 2000. The pilot further reported that no discrepancies were noted during the engine run-up, and all engine instruments were indicating in the green arcs after applying full power to takeoff. While climbing about 100 feet above ground level (agl), the "entire aircraft began to shake violently and the power dropped to 1,000 rpm. The rpm then advanced slightly to 1,400 rpm, and dropped off as the engine quit." She landed the airplane with only 180 feet remaining on the departure runway and applied heavy brakes. The airplane departed the end of the runway, rolled onto wet grass, and unable to stop the airplane, collided with a chain link fence. The pilot and the DOM notified the Greensboro FAA Flight Standards District Office (FSDO) within approximately 1.5 - 2.0 hours from the time of the accident. FAA FSDO personnel made the determination based on the described damage that the airplane sustained minor damage. FAA personnel also informed the DOM of the facility that had overhauled the engine to photograph it and to disassemble the damaged engine taking photographs during various stages of disassembly. The engine was disassembled per the instructions from the FAA without government oversight, before NTSB notification. Following NTSB notification, arrangements were made with a local airframe and powerplant mechanic with inspection authorization (IA) to inspect the airplane and report his findings. The inspection revealed damage to two leading edge ribs in the right wing and to one leading edge rib in the left wing. The NTSB classified the occurrence as an accident. A copy of the statement from the IA is an attachment to this report. According to the DOM, the No. 4 cylinder connecting rod bolts were fractured, and the connecting rod cap was straight. The camshaft was fractured, and a connecting rod bearing was found in the oil sump. Review of digital photographs taken by the IA who inspected the airplane revealed the No. 4 cylinder skirt was damaged; crankcase material was missing beneath the No. 4 cylinder area. Due to the lack of government oversight during the examination of the failed engine, no components of the engine were examined or retained. Review of the maintenance records revealed an entry dated July 5, 2000, indicates that the engine was overhauled "...per Lycoming Overhaul Manual (60294-7)." The entry also indicates that the engine was test run, and "All pressures and temps [sic] within manufacturer specifications...." A copy of the maintenance record entry is an attachment to this report. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3875Q](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3875Q), registered now, S/N 17259975, built 1971 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172L - Registry model: [Cessna 172L](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172l) (registry code 2072432) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17259975 - Airframe hours: 3256 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-E2D 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 91 - Registered owner: Jeff L. Wood - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 7, 2000, 0 hours before - Departed: MRH - Airport: MRH, Michael J. Smith Field, runway 21, 4,191 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 21; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 975 total, 260 in this make and model, 890 as pilot in command, 190 in the last 90 days, 130 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 250° at 12 knots, gusting 16 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 70 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: EWN, 28 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 20000710040989A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000710040989A), Jul 10, 2000: Cessna 172L, Beaufort, NC, Substantial damage. (.4) The flight was a maintenance test flight following engine overhaul due to a propeller strike on March 10, 2000. No discrepancies were noted by the pilot… ## Other investigations on N3875Q (1) 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. - [NTSB MIA00LA214](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA00LA214), Mar 10, 2000: Cessna 172L (N3875Q), Beaufort, NC, substantial damage. Probable cause: The failure of the pilot to initiate a go-around after the airplane began to porpoise, resulting in a hard landing and structural damage to the airplane. 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.