Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Ozark, Alabama 36361
Monday, September 17, 1990 13:45 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE INSTRUCTOR REPORTED THAT AFTER LEVELING AT CRUISE ALTITUDE A BURNING ODOR WAS DETECTED. A FORCED LANDING TO A HAYFIELD WAS BEGUN. DURING THE DESCENT OIL COVERED THE WINDSCREEN & THE ENGINE SEIZED. WHILE ON LANDING ROLL THE NOSE LANDING GEAR SHEARED. SUBSEQUENT EXAM OF THE ENGINE REVEALED THAT A PLUG WHICH HAD BEEN INSERTED IN ONE OF THE VACANT ENGINE COMPONENT DRIVE GEAR OPENINGS HAD NOT BEEN SAFETY WIRED. THE PLUG WAS FOUND IN THE BOTTOM OF THE ENGINE COWLING. THE ENGINE OIL HAD DRAINED OUT OF THE DRIVE OPENING WHEN THE PLUG FELL OUT WHICH RESULTED IN SEIZURE OF THE ENGINE.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

INADEQUATE ENGINE OVERHAUL PROCEDURES WHICH ALLOWED THE INSTALLATION OF THE ENGINE PLUG WITHOUT SAFETY WIRE TO HOLD IT IN PLACE, AND WHICH RESULTED IN OIL STARVATION OF THE ENGINE.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/17/1990
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1345
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City OZARK
Event State ALABAMA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 36361
Event Date Year 1990
Event Date Month 9
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
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 Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 25000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 32
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -18
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 45
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 10
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) 0
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 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1988
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Sep 17 1990 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1845
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 44542
Date of most recent change to record Dec 12 2000 5:21PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N6411V
NTSB Number ATL90LA172
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name CESSNA
Aircraft Model 172RG
Aircraft Series Identifier 172RG
Aircraft Serial Number 172RG0673
Certified Max Gross Weight 2650
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 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Aug 21 1990 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 0
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Unknown
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name
Aircraft Owner Street Address
Aircraft Owner City
Aircraft Owner State
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name ALABAMA AVIATION & TECH COLL
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address P. O. BOX 1209
Operator City OZARK
Operator State AL
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 36361
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
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 --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Instructional
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1330
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Cruise
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:30AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --