Black River Falls Area Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Black River Falls, Wisconsin 54615
Friday, July 31, 2009 10:58 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot reported that he noticed the engine oil temperature indicator read too high during cruise. He opened the cowl flaps, reduced engine power, and enriched the mixture. He stated that the oil temperature decreased. However, he determined that it was still too high for safety purposes. The engine stopped and oil covered all but the far left side of the windshield. He declared an emergency, started gliding, and lowered the gear on approach. He said, “On final it became clear that I had circled to[o] wide to make the runway, but maintained best glide until striking the garage.” An examination of the airplane indicated that the number two cylinder piston connecting rod failed and fractured the top of the engine case. The cause of the piston rod failure was not determined.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The loss of engine power during cruise due to the number two cylinder piston connecting rod failure for undetermined reasons.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/31/2009
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1058
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City Black River Falls
Event State WISCONSIN
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 54615
Event Date Year 2009
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude --
Event Location Longitude --
Event Location Airport Black River Falls Area Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID BCK
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 1
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 836
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1035 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 165
Weather Observation Facility ID CMY
Elevation of weather observation facility 837
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 18
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 2200
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
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) 18
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 13
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 320
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 4
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.97
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report KCMY 311535Z AUTO 32004KT 10SM SCT022 SCT027 18/13
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 25965
NTSB Notification Source FAA-Milwaukee FSDO
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Oct 14 2009 2:18PM
User who most recently changed record johb
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N2108Q
NTSB Number CEN09LA487
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? Yes
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name CESSNA
Aircraft Model 177RG
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 177RG0508
Certified Max Gross Weight --
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 Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Dec 4 2008 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 3041
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name RANGER FLYING CLUB INC
Aircraft Owner Street Address 5926 CLINTON AVE
Aircraft Owner City MINNEAPOLIS
Aircraft Owner State MN
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 55419
Operator is an individual? Yes
Operator Name Daniel Wilson
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Minneapolis
Operator State MN
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 55419
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 FCM
Departure City Minneapolis
Departure State MN
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 930
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code OSH
Destination City Oshkosh
Destination State WI
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Aug 24 2009 3:02PM
User who most recently changed record male
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location N/A
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --