# NTSB SEA08CA176: Cessna 210E, N98KC, Auburn, WA, August 12, 2008 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 11, 2008, 18:00 local (Aug 12, 2008, 01:00 UTC) - Place: Auburn, WA - Coordinates: 47.299999, -122.150001 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.3000&lon=-122.1500&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-descent: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 26, 2008 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 68679 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA08CA176 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/68679/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA08CA176 ## Probable cause A catastrophic engine failure due to the partial blockage of the lubricating oil galley in one of the crankshaft connecting rod journals, leading to the failure of the connecting rod cap. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Eng oil sys (airframe furnish): eng oil dist (airframe furn)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057920): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Damaged/degraded (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 210E, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057920/cases.md?model=2073416), [All aircraft, 18 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057920/cases.md) - [Fluids: oil](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071020): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid management (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 210E, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071020/cases.md?model=2073416), [All aircraft, 174 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071020/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022000): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Not specified (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 210E, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022000/cases.md?model=2073416), [All aircraft, 224 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022000/cases.md) - [Engine (reciprocating): recip engine power section](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058520): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 210E, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058520/cases.md?model=2073416), [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-descent: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 210E, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=2073416), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Cessna 210E, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=2073416), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Cessna 210E, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=2073416), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis During the descent to the pilot's planned destination, the airplane's engine lost all power, and he was forced to make an emergency landing in a nearby open field. During the landing roll, the airplane impacted an irrigation pipe and nosed over onto its back. The nose over sequence resulted in the buckling of the fuselage and the crushing of the top one foot of the vertical stabilizer. A post-accident partial engine disassembly determined that the oil galley in the number four crankshaft connecting rod journal had became partially blocked by unidentified debris. That blockage resulted in insufficient lubrication of the number four connecting rod bearing, and the ultimate thermal destruction of the bearing. The destruction of the bearing resulted in direct contact between the connecting rod and the crankshaft journal, ultimately leading to the failure of the connecting rod cap due to thermal distress. The failure of the connecting rod cap resulted in the release of the connecting rod from the crankshaft journal, the internal failure of the engine, and the total loss of power. ## Factual narrative During the descent to the pilot's planned destination, the airplane's engine lost all power, and he was forced to make an emergency landing in a nearby open field. Although the pilot was able to make a successful touchdown in the recently plowed field, during the landing roll, the airplane impacted an irrigation pipe and nosed over onto its back. The nose over sequence resulted in the buckling of the fuselage and the crushing of the top one foot of the vertical stabilizer. A post-accident partial engine disassembly by the Investigator-In-Charge determined that the oil galley in the number four crankshaft connecting rod journal had became partially blocked by unidentified debris. That blockage resulted in insufficient lubrication of the number four connecting rod bearing, and the ultimate thermal destruction of the bearing. The destruction of the bearing resulted in direct contact between the connecting rod and the crankshaft journal, ultimately leading to the failure of the connecting rod cap due to thermal distress. The failure of the connecting rod cap resulted in the release of the connecting rod from the crankshaft journal, the internal failure of the engine, and the total loss of power. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N98KC](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N98KC-2009-01-08), registration cancelled 2009-01-08, S/N 21058703, built 1965 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 210E - Registry model: [Cessna 210E](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-210e) (registry code 2073416) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 21058703 - Airframe hours: 4535 - Engines: Continental IO-520-A14B reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Douglas E. Chappelle - Registered owner: Ninety Eight Kilo Corp. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 1, 2008 - Departed: KBNO, Burns, OR - Destination: S50, Auburn, WA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 42; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2; flight hours: 706 total, 493 in this make and model, 24 in the last 90 days, 17 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none ## 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 20080811843579A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080811843579A), Aug 11, 2008: Cessna 210E, Auburn, WA, Substantial damage. (-23)On August 11, 2008 at approximately 1800 local time, the pilot-in-command of Cessna 210, N98KC, executed an emergency landing near green river in Auburn… 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.