Max Conrad Field Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Winona, Minnesota 55987
Thursday, May 8, 1997 7:14 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot reported that while flying at 8,000 feet msl, about a half hour into the flight, the engine missed then ran normal again. The engine power then decreased to 20 inches of manifold pressure. He stated he informed Air Traffic Control of the situation and requested the nearest airport which was 8 miles away. The pilot attempted to re-establish engine power to no avail. The pilot was able to reach the airport and the engine lost all power while on final approach. The pilot made an uneventful forced landing on the runway. Inspection of the engine revealed that the wrong pistons were installed in the engine. The pistons should have been part number 648044 (compression ratio of 7 to 1). The pistons found installed in the engine were part number 648045 (compression ratio of 8.5 to 1). The engine was overhauled on July 30, 1996.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Loss of engine power due to improper maintenance installation.

Event Information

Type of Event Incident
Event Date 5/8/1997
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 714
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City WINONA
Event State MINNESOTA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 55987
Event Date Year 1997
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport MAX CONRAD FIELD
Event Location Nearest Airport ID ONA
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 656
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Dawn
Lowest Ceiling Height 1500
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 6
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) --
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 290
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 7
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 5052
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date May 8 1997 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 758
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2000 12:16PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N7398M
NTSB Number CHI97IA127
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage None
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model T210
Aircraft Series Identifier T210
Aircraft Serial Number 21062018
Certified Max Gross Weight 4016
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection May 2 1997 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name PROMPT AIR, INC
Aircraft Owner Street Address 5300 WEST 63RD STREET
Aircraft Owner City CHICAGO
Aircraft Owner State IL
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 60638
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not Non-scheduled
Indicates Domestic or International Flight Domestic
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail Cargo
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Unknown
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code MKE
Departure City MILWAUKEE
Departure State WI
Departure Country
Departure Time 550
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code MSP
Destination City MINNEAPOLIS
Destination State MN
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Cruise
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 29
Runway Length 5199
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --