Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

South Vienna, Ohio 45369
Saturday, October 12, 2002 20:30 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

During a night flight, while in cruise, there was a burning odor, which momentarily intensified, followed by a complete loss of engine power. The pilot attempted unsuccessfully to restart the engine, and performed a forced landing to a "dark spot" which turned out to be a soybean field. Examination of the engine revealed that the single drive, dual magneto had separated from its attachment point on the engine, and was lying in the engine cowling. The magneto attachment hardware was also located in the engine cowling, and examination of the lock washer revealed no signs of being torqued. In addition, the studs that were used to attach the magneto to the engine accessory housing were not damaged. The magneto had been removed and reinstalled during a replacement of the engine crankcase, which occurred approximately 60 hours prior to the accident.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The improper installation of the single drive, dual magneto, which resulted in its separation from the engine and a subsequent total loss of engine power. Factors included the crops in the forced landing field, and the night lighting conditions.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 10/12/2002
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 2030
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City South Vienna
Event State OHIO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 45369
Event Date Year 2002
Event Date Month 10
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 395545N
Event Location Longitude 0833634W
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 --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1954 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 240
Weather Observation Facility ID DAY
Elevation of weather observation facility 1009
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 35
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Night/Dark
Lowest Ceiling Height 5500
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 3900
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Few
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 5
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 19
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 17
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 210
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 6
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.08
Density Altitude (feet) 1531
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 2
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 14441
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date Oct 17 2002 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1030
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Nov 25 2003 11:36AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Cincinnati FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N7510V
NTSB Number IAD03LA006
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model 177RG
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 177RG0808
Certified Max Gross Weight 2800
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/Foreign 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 Jul 19 2002 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 60
Airframe Hours 5500
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name David Campbell
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City South Charleston
Aircraft Owner State OH
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 45368
Operator is an individual? No
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 None
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code I54
Departure City Tremont City
Departure State OH
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 2025
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code UYF
Destination City London
Destination State OH
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Cruise
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Aug 12 2003 1:53PM
User who most recently changed record COXP
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location --
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --