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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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NTSB Report

September 29, 1990 · Cessna 172N · N1904V

Stokesdale, NC

Overview

Report Status
Probable Cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
September 29, 1990
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (3 uninjured)
Location
Stokesdale, NC
Aircraft
Cessna 172N
Tail Number
N1904V
Operator
Martely James
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
ATL90LA186

While cruising at 3500 feet, the pilot experienced a partial loss of engine power. Attempts to restore full power failed. He radioed approach control and advised the controller of his problem. He also requested radar vectors to the nearest airport for an emergency landing. Moments later the engine quit. The pilot selected an emergency landing area and established an approach to a large pasture. The right main landing gear broke off at touchdown in the rough/uneven pasture. Examination of the engine revealed a failed engine driven oil pump. The pump had a total of 3620 hours and 1682 hours since last overhauled. Lycoming issued a service bulletin which instructed owners to replace the sintered-iron impellers at 2000 hours of engine service. An FAA AD was also issued which allowed an owner to operate up to 4000 hours before replacing the impellers. The propulsion branch stated that a revised AD would be issued to correct the loopholes which caused this accident.

NTSB Probable Cause

THE FAILURE OF THE ENGINE DRIVEN OIL PUMP WHICH RESULTED IN OIL STARVATION TO THE ENGINE. FACTORS WERE: THE FAA'S FAILURE TO PROVIDE SUFFICIENT STANDARDS FOR AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE COMPLIANCE, AND THE ROUGH TERRAIN.

Full Narrative

WHILE CRUISING AT 3500 FEET, THE PILOT EXPERIENCED A PARTIAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. ATTEMPTS TO RESTORE FULL POWER FAILED. HE RADIOED APPROACH CONTROL AND ADVISED THE CONTROLLER OF HIS PROBLEM. HE ALSO REQUESTED RADAR VECTORS TO THE NEAREST AIRPORT FOR AN EMERGENCY LANDING. MOMENTS LATER THE ENGINE QUIT. THE PILOT SELECTED AN EMERGENCY LANDING AREA AND ESTABLISHED AN APPROACH TO A LARGE PASTURE. THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR BROKE OFF AT TOUCHDOWN IN THE ROUGH/UNEVEN PASTURE. EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED A FAILED ENGINE DRIVEN OIL PUMP. THE PUMP HAD A TOTAL OF 3620 HOURS AND 1682 HOURS SINCE LAST OVERHAULED. LYCOMING ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN WHICH INSTRUCTED OWNERS TO REPLACE THE SINTERED-IRON IMPELLERS AT 2000 HOURS OF ENGINE SERVICE. AN FAA AD WAS ALSO ISSUED WHICH ALLOWED AN OWNER TO OPERATE UP TO 4000 HOURS BEFORE REPLACING THE IMPELLERS. THE PROPULSION BRANCH STATED THAT A REVISED AD WOULD BE ISSUED TO CORRECT THE LOOPHOLES WHICH CAUSED THIS ACCIDENT.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time15:05 EDT
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Runway Length0
Runway Width0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireUnknown
Aircraft ExplosionUnknown

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 172N
Tail NumberN1904V
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorMartely James
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-320-E2D · Reciprocating · 150
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (3 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured3
Total3
Crew 1Age 47 · Unknown

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind280° @ 5 kt
Visibility6 sm
CeilingBroken clouds 15000 ft
Temperature / Dew Point48
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time14:50

Appendix: Source Data