# NTSB SEA05LA179: American Champion 7KCAB, N7546T, Richland, WA, August 22, 2005 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 22, 2005, 08:35 local (15:35 UTC) - Place: Richland, WA - Coordinates: 46.367221, -119.306388 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.3672&lon=-119.3064&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 27, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Spokane FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 62288 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA05LA179 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/62288/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA05LA179 ## Probable cause The oil pressure gauge line fitting coming loose from the engine, resulting in the loss of oil to the point where internal engine components were starved for oil, leading to extensive internal damage and seizing of the engine. Factors include a set of eight inch high berms in the field where the pilot found it necessary to execute his forced landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, descent - normal - lubricating system,oil tubing - loose (cause) - fluid,oil - leak (cause) - fluid,oil - starvation (cause) - powerplant - seized (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, emergency landing - terrain condition - berm (contributing factor) - Nose over, landing - roll ## Analysis The pilot, who had just finished practicing a series of aerobatic maneuvers, was descending back toward the airport when the engine suddenly quit. He attempted to restart the engine, which momentarily fired, but it did not stay running. The propeller, which initially was windmilling after the power loss, eventually came to a stop, and the pilot was unable to get the engine to rotate by activating the starter. He therefore made a power-off forced landing in a nearby open field, and although the flare and touchdown were uneventful, during the landing roll, the aircraft encountered a pair of eight inch high berms and nosed over onto its back. A post accident inspection of the aircraft and engine determined that the fitting that attaches the oil pressure gauge line to the engine had come loose, and oil had escaped from the area around the fitting. Further inspection revealed that the loss of oil lead to extensive thermal and mechanical damage to the primary lower end engine components, and that the engine had seized as a result of that damage. A review of the aircraft records did not reveal any recent maintenance in which the oil pressure measuring system would have been expected to have been manipulated. ## Factual narrative On August 22, 2005, approximately 0835 Pacific daylight time, an American Champion 7KCAB, N7546T, nosed over during a forced landing in an open field about three miles north of Richland, Washington. The private pilot, who was the sole occupant, was not injured, but the aircraft, which is owned and operated by the pilot, sustained substantial damage. The local 14 CFR Part 91 personal pleasure flight, which departed Richland about 35 minutes prior to the accident, was being operated in visual meteorological conditions. No flight plan had been filed. The ELT, which was activated by the accident sequence, was turned off at the scene. According to the pilot, he had just finished practicing a series of aerobatic maneuvers, and was descending back toward the airport when the engine suddenly quit. He attempted to restart the engine, which momentarily fired, but it did not stay running. The propeller, which initially was windmilling after the power loss, eventually came to a stop, and the pilot was unable to get the engine to rotate by activating the starter. He therefore made a power-off forced landing in a nearby open field. Although the flare and touchdown were uneventful, during the landing roll, the aircraft encountered a pair of eight inch high berms, that appeared to have been created by a bulldozer, and subsequently nosed over onto its back. A post-accident inspection of the aircraft and engine determined that the fitting that attaches the oil pressure gauge line to the engine had come loose, and oil had escaped from the area around the fitting. Further inspection revealed that the loss of oil lead to extensive thermal and mechanical damage to the primary lower end engine components, and that the engine had seized as a result of that damage. A review of the aircraft records did not reveal any recent maintenance in which the oil pressure measuring system would have been expected to have been manipulated. ## Aircraft - Registration: N7546T (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: American Champion (ACAC) 7KCAB - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 287-70 - Airframe hours: 3540 - Engines: Lycoming IO-320-E2A 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Bryan F. Gore - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, December 1, 2003, 118 hours before - Departed: KRLD, Richland, WA - Destination: KRLD ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 66; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review October 1, 2004; seat: front; flight hours: 677 total, 275 in this make and model, 677 as pilot in command, 57 in the last 90 days, 22 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F 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.