Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Wauchula, Florida 33873
Sunday, January 18, 2009 14:00 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot was climbing to 7,500 feet mean sea level when the engine started vibrating. The engine temperature increased and the engine stopped. The pilot realized that he could not make an airport and made a forced landing to a phosphate field. Examination of the engine revealed that it contained 6 quarts of dark black oil. The oil filter was removed and contained metallic contamination. Disassembly of the engine revealed dirt particle embedment on the Numbers 1 and 2 cylinder connecting rod bearings. The Number 3 connecting rod bearing was found disconnected from the crankshaft, with only small steel fragments remaining. The No. 3 connecting rod cap and associated broken rod bolts displayed overload signatures. The Number 4 connecting rod remained attached to the crankshaft and displayed heavy heat damage consistent with oil starvation. The operator reported that its maintenance personnel were performing oil changes during the 100-hour inspections. Lycoming Mandatory Service Bulletin 480E states that engines with a full-flow filtration system are required to have the oil changed at 50-hour intervals.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

A loss of engine power due to failure of the Number 3 connecting rod due to oil contamination. Contributing to the accident was the insufficient oil change time intervals performed by company personnel.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 1/18/2009
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1400
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City Wauchula
Event State FLORIDA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 33873
Event Date Year 2009
Event Date Month 1
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 273053N
Event Location Longitude 0815249W
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 1450 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 11
Weather Observation Facility ID BOW
Elevation of weather observation facility 125
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 26
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 4000
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) 15
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 21
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 5
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 210
Variable Wind Indicator --
Wind Speed (knots) 8
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.08
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 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 25180
NTSB Notification Source FAA Orlando FSDO
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Mar 9 2009 4:07PM
User who most recently changed record kenj
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N6566P
NTSB Number ERA09LA146
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed Unknown
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name CESSNA
Aircraft Model 152
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 15285034
Certified Max Gross Weight 1670
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats 1
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats 1
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Dec 8 2008 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 53
Airframe Hours 7906
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name J.A. Megna Aircraft LLC
Aircraft Owner Street Address 7361 SW 116 Terrace
Aircraft Owner City Miami
Aircraft Owner State FL
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 33156
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Dean International Inc.
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 14532 SW 129 Street
Operator City Miami
Operator State FL
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 33186
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
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 BKV
Departure City Brooksville
Departure State FL
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1315
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code TMB
Destination City Miami
Destination State FL
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Mar 9 2009 4:07PM
User who most recently changed record kenj
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location N/A
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --