Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Bunnell, Florida 32164
Saturday, March 31, 2007 13:30 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The solo commercial pilot was on a cross-country personal flight operated under Title 14, CFR Part 91. The pilot reported that while in cruise flight about 2,500 feet above the ground, the engine began to run rough and lose power. Black smoke began coming from within the engine compartment, followed by a severe engine vibration, and then a complete loss of engine power. The pilot selected an open swampy area as an emergency landing area. During the emergency landing, the airplane's nose wheel collided with a large stump, and the wings collided with a stand of trees. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings, fuselage, and empennage. After recovery, an FAA airworthiness inspector examined the airplane. The FAA inspector reported a hole in the crankcase adjacent to the number one cylinder. He said that he found the number one piston assembly in the oil sump, and that the number one piston wristpin remained attached to the connecting rod. He said that portions of the engine crankshaft assembly were broken, and he noted a significant amount of rotational scoring in the internal portions of the engine.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The loss of engine power during cruise due to the separation of an engine piston, which resulted in a forced landing in a swamp and a collision with trees.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/31/2007
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1330
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Bunnell
Event State FLORIDA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 32164
Event Date Year 2007
Event Date Month 3
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 292800N
Event Location Longitude 0811222W
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 --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1453 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID DAB
Elevation of weather observation facility 34
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 3900
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Few
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 22
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 130
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 10
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 16
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.18
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 21982
NTSB Notification Source Miami NTSB Office
NTSB Notification Date Apr 3 2007 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Jul 25 2007 12:22PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\lema
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office North Florida FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N8092T
NTSB Number ANC07LA026
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 175
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 17556792
Certified Max Gross Weight 2350
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
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 Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Sep 1 2006 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 2640
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Wayne R. Royal
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Green Cove Springs
Aircraft Owner State FL
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 32043
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 X47
Departure City BUNNELL
Departure State FL
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1325
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code 7FL4
Destination City GREEN COVE SPRI
Destination State FL
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Cruise
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jul 24 2007 7:25PM
User who most recently changed record STAM
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 --