# NTSB MIA08LA097: Cessna 182L, N42116, Louisville, KY, May 7, 2008 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 7, 2008, 09:37 local (13:37 UTC) - Place: Louisville, KY - Coordinates: 38.223331, -85.658058 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.2233&lon=-85.6581&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Emergency descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/600) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Emergency descent: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report December 8, 2008 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA/FSDO, Teledyne Continental Motors, Cessna Aircraft Company - NTSB case key (mKey): 67955 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA08LA097 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/67955/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA08LA097 ## Probable cause A total fatigue failure of the No. 5 piston during climb. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Engine (reciprocating): recip engine power section](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058520): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 182L, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058520/cases.md?model=2072726), [All aircraft, 233 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058520/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-climb to cruise: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342); cases with it: [Cessna 182L, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=2072726), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 182L, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=2072726), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Approach-VFR pattern final: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 182L, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2072726), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot stated that he departed the airport with the intention of completing a cross-country flight. About 10 miles from the airport, the engine started running rough, and he immediately turned back to the airport. While on short final approach, the engine stopped and the pilot executed a forced landing to a residential area. Examination of the engine revealed that the No. 5 piston (part No. 626992) failed due to a fatigue fracture. Dark deposits on the fracture indicated that the crack existed prior to the event, and the origin area was obliterated by postfracture damage. Review of service difficulty reports (SDR) for an approximate 10-year period, revealed that given the low incidence of cracking in part No. 626992 pistons, it is likely that the cracking was a result of an operational condition, and not a result of a defect in a batch of pistons. ## Factual narrative On May 7, 2008, at 0937 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 182L, N42116, crashed into a residential area, about 1 mile from the Bowman Field Airport (LOU), Louisville, Kentucky. The certificated private pilot received serious injuries and the airplane was substantially damaged. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight. The airplane was registered to and operated by the private pilot, under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91. The pilot stated that he departed from LOU, enroute to Bloomington, Indiana. About 10 miles from LOU the engine started running rough, and he immediately turned back to the airport. While on short final approach, the engine stopped and he made a forced landing in the backyard of a private residence. When asked if he recalled the engine and instrument indications, he said that all the engine indications were normal. The cylinder head temperature was "ok," and the propeller was at 2,700 rpm. He also said that the engine oil pressure indication was in the green arc. The pilot, age 52, held a private pilot certificate, with ratings for airplane single-engine land and instrument airplane. His certificate was issued on January 9, 2008. He also held a third-class medical certificate, issued on December 7, 2007, with limitations for corrective lenses. At the time of his last medical certificate, the pilot reported a total flight experience of 200 hours. The pilot's logbooks were not available for review, and a determination of his total flight hours could not be completed. The four-seat, high-wing, fixed-gear airplane was manufactured in 1968. It was powered by a Teledyne Continental Motors (TCM) O-470R, 230-horsepower engine and was equipped with a two-bladed McCauley constant speed propeller. Review of the maintenance logbook records showed that an annual inspection was completed on October 20, 2007, at tachometer reading 2135.9 hours, and an airframe total time of 4263.4 hours. The tachometer time at the time of the accident was 2175.34 hours. Examination of the airplane revealed that it came to rest in the backyard of a private residence. The cockpit, fuselage, and empennage were crushed. The left and right wings were buckled and impact damaged. Examination of the fuel system revealed that there was fuel leakage around the airplane. Approximately 20 gallons of fuel were defueled from the wings. The vertical stabilizer and rudder were buckled. The horizontal stabilizer and elevator were buckled. Flight control cable continuity was established throughout the airframe. The airframe and flight control system components revealed no evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunction. Visual examination of the engine revealed that the No. 1 and No. 2 connecting rods were broken and came through the top of the aft section of the engine case. The engine was disassembled for further examination. Disassembly of the engine revealed that the No. 5 piston failed. Review of the engine logbook revealed that the engine was overhauled on May 1, 1992, by TCM. The engine was installed on May 15, 1992 at an aircraft tachometer time of 814 hours. During a 100-hour inspection on August 24, 2003, at a tachometer time 1766.68 hours, the No. 1, 2, and 3 cylinders were replaced for low compression, with overhauled units. During a 100-hour inspection on September 25, 2005, low compression was noted on the No. 6 cylinder and it was replaced; there were 1140.22 hours on the remanufactured engine at the time of that replacement. The No. 5 piston was sent to the National Transportation Safety Board Materials Laboratory for further examination. Analysis of the piston (part No. 626992) revealed that it fractured due to fatigue cracking. Dark deposits on the fracture indicated that the crack existed prior to the event, and the origin area was obliterated by postfracture damage. Review of service difficulty reports (SDR) revealed that during a period of more than 10 years, two other engines suffered a piston failures related to the same part number. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N42116](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N42116-2009-10-28), registration cancelled 2009-10-28, S/N 18258858, built 1968 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 182L - Registry model: [Cessna 182L](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182l) (registry code 2072726) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18258858 - Airframe hours: 2135 - Engines: Continental O-470 (25) 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 1, 2007, 39 hours before - Departed: LOU, LOUISVILLE, KY - Destination: BMG, BLOOMINGTON, IN - Airport: LOU, Bowman Field ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 52; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 200 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 200° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 10,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 29.88 inHg - Observed at: LOU, 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 (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20080507836139A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080507836139A), May 7, 2008: Cessna 182L, Louisville, KY, Destroyed. (-23) Aircraft departed Bowman airfield with 80 gallons of fuel on board. 10 miles out pilot reported that the engine was running rough and he was returning to… ## Other investigations on N42116 (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 IAD77DKM07](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD77DKM07), Dec 9, 1976: Cessna 182 (N42116), Hickory, NC, substantial damage 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.