# NTSB WPR19LA185: Cessna TU206, N150SC, Waikoloa Village, HI, July 3, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: July 3, 2019, 10:35 local (20:35 UTC) - Place: Waikoloa Village, HI · roadway - Coordinates: 19.911111, -155.8125 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=19.9111&lon=-155.8125&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 99798 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR19LA185 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/99798/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99798 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR19LA185 ## Probable cause The total loss of engine power due to the failure of the No. 4 connecting rod crankshaft end and cap. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Aircraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01050000): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna TU206F, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01050000/cases.md?model=2073353), [All aircraft, 151 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01050000/cases.md) - [Fluids: oil](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071020): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid level; cases with it: [Cessna TU206F, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071020/cases.md?model=2073353), [All aircraft, 174 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna TU206F, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=2073353), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341); cases with it: [Cessna TU206F, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=2073353), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna TU206F, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2073353), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis After flying for about 3 hours conducting aerial survey work, the pilot noticed a low oil pressure indication in the cockpit. The pilot prepared for a landing at the destination airport. During the approach he heard a bang and the airplane started to shake. He pitched the airplane to maintain the best glide speed and noticed the engine had lost all oil pressure. The pilot prepared for a forced landing to a road, during which the right wing struck a road sign, and the airplane came to rest in a ditch. Examination of the engine revealed the No. 4 connecting rod crankshaft end and cap separated from the rod and the bolts were sheared. One of the nuts for the connecting rod cap bolts was split and both pieces were recovered. Signatures of high heat on the piston end of all the connecting rods was also noted. The high heat signatures were consistent with a lack of oil lubrication (and subsequent cooling during operation) for the connecting rods at the crankshaft. The lack of lubrication likely caused the failure of the No. 4 connecting rod crankshaft end and cap, which resulted in a total loss of engine power. The reason for the lack of lubrication could not be determined from available information. ## Factual narrative On July 3, 2019, at 1035 Hawaii-Aleutian standard time, a Cessna TU206F, N150SC, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Waikoloa Village, Hawaii. The commercial pilot and passenger were not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 aerial observation flight. The pilot reported that the flight was destined for Kona, Hawaii, to conduct aerial survey work. After flying for about 3 hours, he noticed a low oil pressure indication in the cockpit. The pilot prepared for a landing at Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport (PHKO), Kona, Hawaii, during which he heard a “bang” and the airplane started to shake. He pitched the airplane to maintain the best glide speed and noticed the engine had lost all oil pressure. The engine continued to run at an idle setting; however, the pilot had no throttle authority. He prepared for a forced landing to a road, during which the right wing struck a road sign, and the airplane came to rest in a ditch. Examination of the engine by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed the No. 4 connecting rod crankshaft end and cap separated from the rod and the bolts were sheared. One of the nuts for the connecting rod cap bolts was split and both pieces were recovered. The inspector also noted indications of high heat on the piston end of all the connecting rods with darkening on the crankshaft end of the No. 5 connecting rod. There were numerous large pieces of the connecting rod cap and pistons that had migrated through the engine case resulting in further damage to several other cylinders and pistons. Cracks were observed on at least two other pistons and damage was noted to the cylinder mounting flanges on at least three cylinders. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N150SC](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N150SC), registered now, S/N U20601958, built 1973 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna TU206 (F) - Registry model: [Cessna TU206F](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-tu206f) (registry code 2073353) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-520-series) (registry code 17040, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: U20601958 - Year built: 1973 - Airframe hours: 9736.1 - Engines: Continental Motors Inc. TSIO-520-M 285 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial observation, Part 91 - Operator: Aerial Imaging Inc - Registered owner: Aerial Imaging Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 1, 2019 - Departed: HNL, Honolulu, HI - Destination: HKO, Waikoloa Village, HI - Equipment: ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 25; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2; last flight review November 9, 2017; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 1,185 total, 1 in this make and model, 1,123 as pilot in command, 53 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 70 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 inHg - Observed at: PHKO, 17 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 20190703017489A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190703017489A), Jul 3, 2019: Cessna TU206F, Waikoloa Villag, HI, Substantial damage. Aircraft departed from honolulu, HI to conduct aerial imaging and surveying of a military restricted area on the island of Hawaii. Roughly 3 hours into flight… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 19, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99798. 14.7 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 8.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13852440&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - FAA teardown summary of findings (item 2, PDF, 11 pages, 3.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13853073&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Summary%20of%20Findings%20(FAA)-Rel.pdf - Excerpt aircraft logbooks (item 3, PDF, 11 pages, 2.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13852058&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Excerpt%20Aircraft%20Logbooks_Redacted-Rel.pdf 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.