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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

November 17, 1989 · Cessna 177RG · N2069Q

Van Nuys, CA

Overview

Report Status
Probable Cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
November 17, 1989
Injury Outcomes
2 injuries (1 serious injury, 1 minor injury)
Location
Van Nuys, CA
Aircraft
Cessna 177RG
Tail Number
N2069Q
Operator
William a Ryan
Injuries
Serious
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
LAX90LA035

Near the end of the first flight following installation of an overhauled engine, the engine seized after the pilot noticed a rapid drop in oil pressure. After the accident, the left side lower exterior fuselage was found to be covered with fresh oil, with the oil smear originating near the oil breather line. The engine cowl baffle seals were found installed incorrectly. Less than 1 quart of oil was found in the engine sump. On the external rear sides of the #3 & #4 cylinder barrels, an oval area of heat distress was noted. The crankshaft & piston rods exhibited progressive heat distress on all rod bearings and crankshaft journals, with the #1 rod exhibiting the least heat signatures & the #4 the most severe. The #3 rod cap was found loose in the engine; examination of the cap bolts revealed severe necking signatures at the point of tension failure. A micrometer was used to measure the cylinder barrels for roundness. The #3 cyl was found to be outside the factory spec by .002 inches.

NTSB Probable Cause

THE INCORRECT INSTALLATION OF THE ENGINE COWL AND BAFFLE SEALS DURING THE INSTALLATION OF THE ENGINE FOLLOWING AN OVERHAUL.

Full Narrative

NEAR THE END OF THE FIRST FLIGHT FOLLOWING INSTALLATION OF AN OVERHAULED ENGINE, THE ENGINE SIEZED AFTER THE PILOT NOTICED A RAPID DROP IN OIL PRESSURE. AFTER THE ACCIDENT, THE LEFT SIDE LOWER EXTERIOR FUSELAGE WAS FOUND TO BE COVERED WITH FRESH OIL, WITH THE OIL SMEAR ORIGINATING NEAR THE OIL BREATHER LINE. THE ENGINE COWL BAFFLE SEALS WERE FOUND INSTALLED INCORRECTLY. LESS THAN 1 QUART OF OIL WAS FOUND IN THE ENGINE SUMP. ON THE EXTERNAL REAR SIDES OF THE #3 & #4 CYLINDER BARRELS, AN OVAL AREA OF HEAT DISTRESS WAS NOTED. THE CRANKSHAFT & PISTON RODS EXHIBITED PROGRESSIVE HEAT DISTRESS ON ALL ROD BEARINGS AND CRANKSHAFT JOURNALS, WITH THE #1 ROD EXHIBITING THE LEAST HEAT SIGNATURES & THE #4 THE MOST SEVERE. THE #3 ROD CAP WAS FOUND LOOSE IN THE ENGINE; EXAMINATION OF THE CAP BOLTS REVEALED SEVERE NECKING SIGNATURES AT THE POINT OF TENSION FAILURE. A MICROMETER WAS USED TO MEASURE THE CYLINDER BARRELS FOR ROUNDNESS. THE #3 CYL WAS FOUND TO BE OUTSIDE THE FACTORY SPEC BY .002 INCHES.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time15:00 PST
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Runway Length0
Runway Width0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 177RG
Tail NumberN2069Q
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorWilliam a Ryan
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · IO-360-A1B6D · Reciprocating · 200
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury Summary2 injuries (1 serious injury, 1 minor injury)
Fatal0
Serious1
Minor1
Uninjured0
Total2
Crew 1Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind120° @ 8 kt
Visibility5 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point0 C / 0 C
Altimeter0
Observation Time23:05
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data