# NTSB MIA03LA048: Cessna 172F, N5602R, Jacksonville, FL, January 28, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 28, 2003, 09:17 local (14:17 UTC) - Place: Jacksonville, FL - Coordinates: 30.333333, -81.5 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.3333&lon=-81.5000&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 25, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 56412 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA03LA048 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/56412/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=56412 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA03LA048 ## Probable cause a total loss of engine power due to the failure the oil filter because of over-pressurization, resulting in damage to the airplane during the subsequent 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, maneuvering - lubricating system,oil filter/screen - pressure excessive (cause) - lubricating system,oil filter/screen - burst (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - In flight collision with terrain/water, emergency descent/landing - terrain condition - short runway/landing area - Nose over, landing - roll ## Analysis The flight was in the processes of performing a morning traffic report and maneuvering to cover a traffic accident when the pilot noticed the engine RPM drop from 2200 RPM to 1500 RPM, then smoke came out of the cowling and the engine seized. He attempted a forced landing near a residential area in a short grass field about 4 miles west of the airport. At touchdown the pilot turned the airplane about 180 degrees, and it nosed over. Examination of the wreckage revealed the engine had seized, and the oil seal had unseated at the mating surface between the oil filter and the housing. Examination of the Champion Oil Filter, CH48109, revealed that it had failed due to over-pressurization. ## Factual narrative On January 28, 2003, about 0917 eastern standard time, a Cessna 172F, N5602R, operated by Flying Weaners Inc. as a Title 14 CFR Part 91 other work use flight lost total engine power, and nosed over during a forced landing near Jacksonville, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. No flight plan was filed. The airplane was substantially damaged. The commercial rated-pilot and one passenger reported no injuries. The flight had originated from Craig Municipal Airport (CRG), Jacksonville, Florida, at 0725. According to the pilot the flight was in the processes of performing a morning traffic report and maneuvering to cover a traffic accident when the pilot noticed the engine RPM drop. According to his statement, as he headed west, northwest bound he "noticed a 50 RPM drop." Before the drop he was cruising at "2200 RPM." He looked at the engine gages, they were still in the "green," and the other instrument gauges were "looking fine." He radioed the Traffic Center and told them that he had a "engine problem," and that he was heading back to the airport. He turned around heading east; northeast bound, contacted CRG Tower, and declared an emergency. He said that the RPM kept dropping another 1OO RPM, than another 2OO RPM, and kept dropping until 1500 RPM, then "smoke came out of the cowling and the engine seized." He attempted a forced landing near a residential area in a short grass field, about 4 miles west of the airport. On approach, and at about 200 feet above the ground, he "...started pitching up slowly to a full stall, without adding any flaps, had the [airplane] sank down and when the [airplane] touched its main gear, [he] applied full left rudder, turned the [airplane] about 180 degrees," and nosed over. The FAA inspector that had gone to the crash site stated, he found the engine had seized, the oil seal had unseated at the mating surface between the Champion oil filter and the housing. The engine oil sump was empty, and the number 1 piston rod was missing, as well as the top portion of the engine case between number 1 and 2 cylinders. At the request of the NTSB investigator-in-charge, the FAA, Flight Standards District Office (FSDO) inspector had the Champion Oil Filter, CH48109, from N5602R, sent to the FAA, Manufacturing Inspection District Offices (MIDO), Atlanta, Georgia, to supervise a teardown and examination of the oil filter. The subject oil filter was torn down on May 5,2003, under the supervision of the FAA/MIDO, at Purolator's facilities in Fayetteville, North Carolina. According to the report, physical inspection of the filter reveled that the gasket had blown out of its retaining groove. The gasket blowout indicated that the point at which oil pressure forced the gasket out was between the filter's retainer groove, and the engine's mounting base. A burst test using two sample CH48109 oil filters from the same production date was conducted. The burst test showed that when oil pressure was progressively applied to the sample filters they were observed to elongate at the dome, and roller seam areas, as the pressure reached 500 psi. The seam eventually separated on the first filter and "burst" at 640.5 psi. The second filter burst at 604.7 psi. The subject filter was then cut open for verification of the inner core for damage. No deposits or particles were found, and no discrepancies were noted. According to the FAA/MIDO's report, based on the examination and burst tests, it was determined that the filter from N5602R, failed due to "over-pressurization." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5602R](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5602R-2012-09-24), registration cancelled 2012-09-24, S/N 17253210, built 1965 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172F - Registry model: [Cessna 172F](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172f) (registry code 2072414) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-300 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-300-series) (registry code 17022, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17256210 - Airframe hours: 4857.3 - Engines: Continental O-300-D 145 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Other work use, Part 91 - Registered owner: Flying Weaners Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, December 1, 2002, 77 hours before - Departed: CRG, Jacksonville, FL - Airport: CRG, Craig Muni ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 40; injuries: none; flight instructor, airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review October 25, 2002; seat: left; flight hours: 1,750 total, 1,648 as pilot in command, 190 in the last 90 days, 54 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 34 °F, dew point 30 °F - Altimeter: 30.43 inHg - Observed at: KCRG, 4 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 20030128007009A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030128007009A), Jan 28, 2003: Cessna 172F, Jacksonville, FL, Substantial damage. (-23) During cruise flight the PIC reported a complete power loss. The PIC landed in a short grass field and the aircraft flipped over causing substantial… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 11, 2003, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=56412. 3.8 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 454 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40380940&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Photo (item 2, .PDF, 1.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40183600&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo-Master.PDF - Reports from Federal Agencies (item 3, .PDF, 1.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40183768&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Reports%20from%20Federal%20Agencies-Master.PDF - Supplement S (item 4, .PDF, 39 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40184005&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Supplement%20S-Master.PDF 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.