# NTSB NYC93LA117: Cessna 182Q, N735CA, Holbrook, NY, June 18, 1993

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: June 18, 1993, 12:39 local (16:39 UTC)
- Place: Holbrook, NY
- Coordinates: 40.789581, -73.069244 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.7896&lon=-73.0692&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report September 13, 1994
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 38606
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC93LA117
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/38606/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC93LA117

## Probable cause

THE ENGINE FAILURE AS THE RESULT OF A FRACTURED CRANKSHAFT DUE TO METAL FATIGUE.

## 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, climb - to cruise
  - engine assembly,crankshaft - fatigue (cause)
  - engine assembly,crankshaft - fractured (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- In flight collision with object, descent - emergency
  - object - pole

## Analysis

THE PILOT STATED THAT ABOUT 3 MINUTES AFTER TAKEOFF 'THE ENGINE STARTED TO KNOCK LOUDLY AND HAD A POWER LOSS.'  HE INITIATED A FORCED LANDING, AND THE WING STRUCK A POLE.  A POST-IMPACT FIRE DESTROYED THE AIRPLANE. AN EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED A FRACTURED CRANKSHAFT.  THE NTSB METALLURGIST EXAMINED THE FRACTURED SURFACES AND DETERMINED THAT THE  FAILURE WAS THE RESULT OF 'FATIGUE [THAT] INITIATED AT MULTIPLE SITES ALONG THE SURFACE OF THE AFT RADIUS OF THE #2 MAIN BEARING JOURNAL.' THE ENGINE HAD APPROXIMATELY 1196 HOURS SINCE A REMANUFACTURED CRANKSHAFT HAD BEEN INSTALLED.

## Factual narrative

On Friday, June 18, 1993, at 1239 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 182Q, N735CA, registered to D & P Transportation, Inc., and piloted by Charles P. Hunkele, was destroyed during a forced landing in Holbrook, New York.  The pilot received minor injuries.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed.  The flight was being conducted under 14 CFR 91.

The airplane departed the Long Island MacArthur Airport, Islip, New York.  In the NTSB Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, the pilot stated:

About 3 minutes after take off the engine           started to knock and had a loss [of] power.           The plane was shaking badly.  I looked for           an emergency landing area, turned and went           towards that area....went through my           emergency procedures....set up for my           emergency landing....went over a building           ...but the left wing struck a light pole....           came to a stop....someone [was] yelling           get out its burning.

An examination of the engine was conducted at Mattituck Aviation Corporation, Mattituck, New York, on June 23, 1993, under the supervision of Suzanne Brown, Aviation Safety Inspector for the Federal Aviation Administration.  This examination revealed that the engine crankshaft was fractured.  No other discrepancies were observed.

The crankshaft was examined by the National Transportation Safety Board's Materials Laboratory, Washington, D.C.  In the Metallurgist's Factual report, it stated:

The engine was reportedly overhauled 1196.2           service hours prior to the incident.  A reman-           ufactured crankshaft had been installed at           that time.  The letter "U" was stamped on the            propeller hub indicating that the crankshaft had           been previously ultrasonically inspected....Closer           inspections...revealed fracture features typical           of fatigue progression....beach marks indicated           that the fatigue initiated at multiple sites           along the surface of the aft radius of the #2           main bearing journal....the fatigue appeared           to penetrate about 85% of the cheek's cross           section before final overstress fracture through           the remaining cross section.

Higher magnification examinations of the fatigue           origin area...revealed multiple ratchet marks           indicative of at least six fatigue origins           located along the same circumferential plane            through the aft radius of the journal.  Although           the origin area was well beyond the normal bearing           contact area...the radius surface surrounding the            origin had a rubbed appearance with a copperish           color.  The normal varnish pattern as exhibited           in the other radii on the crankshaft was not present           on either radius of the #2 main journal, as if the            bearing contacted the radius.

An examination of the aircraft/engine logbooks revealed no discrepancies.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N735CA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N735CA-1993-11-19), registration cancelled 1993-11-19, S/N 18265308 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 182Q
- Registry model: [Cessna 182Q](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182q) (registry code 2072732) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 18265308
- Engines: CONTINENTAL O-470-U14 230 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: D & P Transportation, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, December 30, 1992
- Departed: ISP, ISLIP, NY
- Destination: MMU, MORRISTOWN, NJ

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 46; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 135 total, 35 in this make and model, 135 as pilot in command, 40 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 84 °F
- Observed at: ISP, 32 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 19930618019529A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930618019529A), Jun 18, 1993: Cessna 182Q, Islip, NY, Destroyed. Three minutes after takeoff engine knock vibration and power loss. Struck pole on forced landing. Crankshaft failed

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.

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