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NTSB Report

July 27, 1998 · Cessna A-188B · N21676

Zolfo Springs, FL

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
July 27, 1998
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (1 uninjured)
Location
Zolfo Springs, FL
Aircraft
Cessna A-188B
Tail Number
N21676
Operator
Fly on Farming
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
MIA98LA209

The aerial application flight was pulling up from his second tract run of the day, at an altitude of 100 to 150 feet agl, when the engine made a 'clunk' sound and stopped running. The pilot felt his only option, given the low altitude, was a forced landing to a 'wide row' in the citrus grove. Subsequent examination of the engine revealed a crankshaft counterweight retaining pin had migrated from its installed position causing catastrophic internal failure.

NTSB Probable Cause

Total loss of engine power due to catastrophic internal engine failure caused by migration of a counterweight retaining.

Full Narrative

On July 27, 1998, about 0800 eastern daylight time, a Cessna A-188B, N21676, registered to a private individual, operating as a 14 CFR 137 aerial application flight, crashed near the town of Zolfo Springs, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The airplane received substantial damage and the commercial-rated pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The flight originated about 25 minutes before the accident. The pilot stated he had just pulled off his second tract of the day, at about 100 to 150 feet of altitude agl, when he heard a "clunk" and his engine quit. At such an altitude, he stated his only option was a forced landing to a "wide row" in the citrus grove. Subsequent disassembly inspection of the engine, with FAA overview, revealed the initial failure to be the migration of one of the two counterweight mounting pins on the rearmost crankshaft journal. This resulted in flailing of the counterweight until it broke through the crankcase. The #5 and #6 cylinder barrels had been peened inside the crankcase and had to be sawed off. The crankshaft had broken. The accident happened at the aircraft's tachometer reading of 2929.2 hours. The engine underwent a major overhaul and was signed off by an authorized inspector on August 27, 1997, at a tachometer reading of 2678.8 hours, or about 250 hours previous to the accident. The aircraft had undergone a 100 hour inspection on February 17, 1998, at a tachometer reading of 2744.5 hours. Copies of engine and aircraft log entries are included under, "Other Pertinent Forms and Reports".

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time08:00 EDT
Nearest Airport0nm
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna A-188B
Tail NumberN21676
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorFly on Farming
Operating RulePart 137
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · IO-520D · Reciprocating · 300
Seats1

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (1 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total1
Crew 1Age 65 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
WindCalm
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time12:50
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data