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August 12, 2008 · Cessna 210E · N98KC

Auburn, WA

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
August 12, 2008
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 minor injury), 3 uninjured
Location
Auburn, WA
Aircraft
Cessna 210E
Tail Number
N98KC
Operator
Douglas E Chappelle
Injuries
Minor
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
SEA08CA176

During the descent to the pilot's planned destination, the airplane's engine lost all power, and he was forced to make an emergency landing in a nearby open field. During the landing roll, the airplane impacted an irrigation pipe and nosed over onto its back. The nose over sequence resulted in the buckling of the fuselage and the crushing of the top one foot of the vertical stabilizer. A post-accident partial engine disassembly determined that the oil galley in the number four crankshaft connecting rod journal had become partially blocked by unidentified debris. That blockage resulted in insufficient lubrication of the number four connecting rod bearing, and the ultimate thermal destruction of the bearing. The destruction of the bearing resulted in direct contact between the connecting rod and the crankshaft journal, ultimately leading to the failure of the connecting rod cap due to thermal distress. The failure of the connecting rod cap resulted in the release of the connecting rod from the crankshaft journal, the internal failure of the engine, and the total loss of power.

NTSB Probable Cause

A catastrophic engine failure due to the partial blockage of the lubricating oil galley in one of the crankshaft connecting rod journals, leading to the failure of the connecting rod cap.

Full Narrative

During the descent to the pilot's planned destination, the airplane's engine lost all power, and he was forced to make an emergency landing in a nearby open field. Although the pilot was able to make a successful touchdown in the recently plowed field, during the landing roll, the airplane impacted an irrigation pipe and nosed over onto its back. The nose over sequence resulted in the buckling of the fuselage and the crushing of the top one foot of the vertical stabilizer. A post-accident partial engine disassembly by the Investigator-In-Charge determined that the oil galley in the number four crankshaft connecting rod journal had became partially blocked by unidentified debris. That blockage resulted in insufficient lubrication of the number four connecting rod bearing, and the ultimate thermal destruction of the bearing. The destruction of the bearing resulted in direct contact between the connecting rod and the crankshaft journal, ultimately leading to the failure of the connecting rod cap due to thermal distress. The failure of the connecting rod cap resulted in the release of the connecting rod from the crankshaft journal, the internal failure of the engine, and the total loss of power.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time18:00 PDT
Nearest Airport5nm
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 210E
Tail NumberN98KC
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorDouglas E Chappelle
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · IO-520-A14B · Reciprocating

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 minor injury), 3 uninjured
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor1
Uninjured3
Total4
Crew 1Age 42 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
WindCalm
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point0 C / 0 C
Altimeter0
Weather SourcePILO

Appendix: Source Data