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December 9, 2006 · Cessna 140 · N76379

Vienna, MO

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
December 9, 2006
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (1 uninjured)
Location
Vienna, MO
Aircraft
Cessna 140
Tail Number
N76379
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
CHI07LA039

The airplane impacted terrain during a forced landing after a loss of engine power. The pilot recently purchased the airplane and had taken delivery of it on the day of the accident. Examination of the engine revealed three of the crankshaft cluster gear bolts were fractured completely through. The bolt fracture surface features were consistent with fatigue. Additionally, the crankshaft gear had a hole where a crankshaft dowel had been installed following a design change in 1948 and was reflected in subsequent maintenance manuals. The dowel is used as a reference in machining the crankshaft. During the disassembly, the tappets fell out when the engine was overturned during the disassembly. It was later noted that the tappets did not contain retaining hardware. The interior of the crankcase halves contained a black colored residue when the oil was drained. Logbook entries show that the engine was last overhauled on July 25, 1990, and accumulated a total time since overhaul of 257.5 hours. Teledyne Continental Service Information Letter, SIL98-9A, Time Between Overhaul Periods, states that engines are to be overhauled at least every twelve years.

NTSB Probable Cause

The loss of engine power during cruise flight due to fatigued crankshaft cluster gear bolts and the inadequate major overhaul of the engine that was last performed by other maintenance personnel. An additional cause was a subsequent major engine overhaul not performed by the pilot after he purchased the airplane and operated it with an engine that exceeded the engine manufacturer's time between overhaul criteria.

Full Narrative

On December 9, 2006, at 1430 central standard time, a Cessna 140, N76379, owned and piloted by a private pilot, received substantial damage on impact with terrain during a forced landing on a farm field near Vienna, Missouri. The pilot stated that the engine lost power after he heard a "bang." Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The pilot reported no injuries. The flight last departed from Rolla National Airport (VIH) Rolla/Vichy, Missouri, at 1410. The pilot purchased the airplane and had taken delivery of it at VIH on the day of the accident. The airplane was powered by a Continental C-85-12F engine, serial number 25578-6-12, which according to logbook entries, was last overhauled on July 25, 1990, and accumulated a total time since overhaul of 257.5 hours. A disassembly examination of the engine at Teledyne Continental Motors, Mobile, Alabama, revealed three of the crankshaft cluster gear bolts were fractured through. The bolt fracture surface features were consistent with fatigue. Additionally, the crankshaft gear had a hole where a crankshaft dowel was later installed following a design change in 1948 and was reflected in subsequent maintenance manuals. The dowel is used as a reference in machining the crankshaft. During the disassembly, the tappets fell out when the engine was overturned during the disassembly. It was later noted that the tappets did not contain retaining hardware. The interior of the crankcase halves contained a black colored residue when the oil was drained. Teledyne Continental Service Information Letter, SIL98-9A, Time Between Overhaul Periods, states that engines are to be overhauled at least every twelve years.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time14:30 CST
Nearest Airport0nm
Flight Plan FiledNone
Flight Plan ActivatedNo
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 140
Tail NumberN76379
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · C85-12F · Reciprocating · 85
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (1 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total1
Crew 1Age 56 · Third Class · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind220° @ 13 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point46 / 25 C
Altimeter30.22 inHg
Observation Time18:53
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data