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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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June 30, 1982 · Cessna 172 · N61791

Martinsburg, WV

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
June 30, 1982
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (4 uninjured)
Location
Martinsburg, WV
Aircraft
Cessna 172
Tail Number
N61791
Operator
Marvi E Clarke Jr
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
ATL82DA181

Shortly after level-off to cruise, the engine began to lose power. The pilot attempted to restore the power, but the engine RPM continued to decrease. A turn was made back toward the airport. While scanning the instruments, zero oil pressure and a high oil temperature were noted. Shortly thereafter, the engine quit operating and the pilot was unable to get it restarted. He landed in an open field, and during the roll-out, the aircraft hit a ditch and nosed over. An investigation revealed that the engine oil pump (LW-12897) had failed. A teardown of the pump revealed that a tooth had failed and had become wedged in the gear housing. Also, the inner walls of the gear housing were scored. AD 81-18-04 applied to this engine and pump, but would not have become applicable until 2000 hours after overhaul or until the accessory section was removed. When applicable, it would have required the replacement of the iron sintered impeller with a hardened steel impeller. The engine had 1410 hrs, since overhaul.

Full Narrative

SHORTLY AFTER LEVEL-OFF TO CRUISE, THE ENGINE BEGAN TO LOSE POWER. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO RESTORE THE POWER, BUT THE ENGINE RPM CONTINUED TO DECREASE. A TURN WAS MADE BACK TOWARD THE AIRPORT. WHILE SCANNING THE INSTRUMENTS, ZERO OIL PRESSURE AND A HIGH OIL TEMPERATURE WERE NOTED. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, THE ENGINE QUIT OPERATING AND THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO GET IT RESTARTED. HE LANDED IN AN OPEN FIELD, AND DURING THE ROLL-OUT, THE AIRCRAFT HIT A DITCH AND NOSED OVER. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE ENGINE OIL PUMP (LW-12897) HAD FAILED. A TEARDOWN OF THE PUMP REVEALED THAT A TOOTH HAD FAILED AND HAD BECOME WEDGED IN THE GEAR HOUSING. ALSO, THE INNER WALLS OF THE GEAR HOUSING WERE SCORED. AD 81-18-04 APPLIED TO THIS ENGINE AND PUMP, BUT WOULD NOT HAVE BECOME APPLICABLE UNTIL 2000 HOURS AFTER OVERHAUL OR UNTIL THE ACCESSORY SECTION WAS REMOVED. WHEN APPLICABLE, IT WOULD HAVE REQUIRED THE REPLACEMENT OF THE IRON SINTERED IMPELLER WITH A HARDENED STEEL IMPELLER. THE ENGINE HAD 1410 HRS, SINCE OVERHAUL.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time22:30 EDT
Nearest AirportEastern West Virginia Re. (0nm N)
Runway35
Runway Length5000 ft
Runway Width0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 172
Tail NumberN61791
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorMarvi E Clarke Jr
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-320-E2D · Reciprocating · 150
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (4 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured4
Total4
Crew 1Age 36 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind260° @ 7 kt
Visibility15 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point18 C / 0 C
Altimeter29.00 inHg

Appendix: Source Data