# NTSB NYC03LA023: Cessna 172K, N7192G, Prestonsburg, KY, November 23, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: November 23, 2002, 16:30 local (21:30 UTC) - Place: Prestonsburg, KY - Coordinates: 37.650554, -82.786666 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.6506&lon=-82.7867&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 2, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 56075 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC03LA023 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/56075/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC03LA023 ## Probable cause The loss of oil pressure for undetermined reasons, which resulted in a failure of connecting rod end bolts, due to an over temperature condition. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, cruise - normal - lubricating system - loss,total (cause) - powerplant - overtemperature - engine assembly,connecting rod bolt - failure - Forced landing, descent - emergency - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - emergency - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis The airplane was in level flight at 3,000 feet, when the engine began to run rough. The pilot cycled the magneto switch and noted no changes in the engine performance. He then observed the oil pressure gauge in the "zero" position. The engine then lost total power, and a forced landing was performed to a field. When the engine was examined, a 2-inch hole in top of the engine crankcase was noted. The connecting rod and camshaft area of the number four cylinder has sustained extreme heating. The bottom half of the connecting rod was bent out of shape, with one of the rod end bolts remaining wedged in the rod end. The other rod end bolt was missing. No evidence of oil leakage was observed. The engine had accumulated about 2,400 hours of operation since it's last overhaul. An annual inspection of the engine was performed about 3 months prior to the accident. A 50-hour inspection, which included servicing the engine with 7 quarts of oil, was conducted 2 days prior to the accident. ## Factual narrative On November 23, 2002, about 1630 eastern standard time, a Cessna 172K, N7192G, was substantially damaged during a forced landing after experiencing a total loss of engine power near Prestonsburg, Kentucky. The certificated flight instructor and student pilot were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the local instructional flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. According to the pilot, the flight had departed the Paintsville-Prestonsburg-Combs Airport, Paintsville, Kentucky, about 1600. While in cruise flight, at 3,000 feet, the engine began to run rough. The pilot cycled the magneto switch and noted no changes in the engine performance. He then observed the oil pressure gauge in the "zero" position. The engine then lost total power, and a forced landing was performed to a field. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector examined the airplane after the accident, and observed substantial damage to the engine firewall, and the fuselage. The inspector also noted a 2-inch hole in top of the engine crankcase. Further examination of the engine revealed that the connecting rod and camshaft area of the number 4 cylinder had sustained extreme heating. The bottom half of the connecting rod was bent out of shape, with one of the rod end bolts remaining wedged in the rod end. The other rod end bolt was missing. The oil screen was removed, and small amounts of metal were observed trapped in the screen. Metal parts were also observed in the oil pan. There was no evidence of oil leakage. The engine had accumulated about 2,400 hours of operation since it's last overhaul conducted in 1986. An annual inspection of the airframe and engine was performed on August 23, 2002. A 50-hour inspection, which included servicing the engine with 7 quarts of oil, was conducted on November 21, 2002. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7192G](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7192G-2008-01-25), registration cancelled 2008-01-25, S/N 17258892, built 1969 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172K - Registry model: [Cessna 172K](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172k) (registry code 2072430) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17258892 - Airframe hours: 3700 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Stanley Haddix - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 24, 2002, 72 hours before - Departed: 3I6, Paintsville, KY ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 46; injuries: none; flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review April 1, 2001; seat: right; flight hours: 2,000 total, 500 in this make and model - Student pilot; age 14; injuries: none; medical: invalid medical for flight; seat: left; flight hours: 4 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 190° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 9,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 46 °F, dew point 25 °F - Altimeter: 30.05 inHg - Observed at: HTS, 38 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 20021123030639A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20021123030639A), Nov 23, 2002: Cessna 172K, Paintsville, KY, Substantial damage. (-23) Cessna 172, N719G departed 316 airport, Paintsville, KY at approx. 1500 local time on instructional flight. During cruise flight, the engine quit due to… 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.