Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Baggs, Wyoming 82321
Saturday, November 6, 2010 14:30 MDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot reported that during cruise flight, he heard and felt a solid “thump” that seemed to come from the engine compartment. Shortly thereafter, the oil pressure dropped and the engine eventually lost power. The pilot initiated a power-off forced landing on a rough and rutted dirt road. Although the initial touchdown was successful, due to the condition of the road, the pilot was unable to keep the airplane on the road surface, and it entered rough and uneven terrain. The nose of the airplane then dug into the terrain, and the airplane nosed over. The postaccident engine examination found that most of the engine oil had exited through a hole in the crankcase. Further examination found that the No. 1 connecting rod cap retaining bolt failed, ultimately resulting in the separation of the connecting rod from the crankshaft. The damage to the fracture surface on the portion of the retaining bolt that was recovered and the missing remainder of the bolt precluded any determination of bolt failure mode.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The failure of a connecting rod cap retaining bolt during cruise flight, which resulted in a loss of engine power.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 11/6/2010
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1430
Event Time Zone Mountain Daylight Time
Event City Baggs
Event State WYOMING
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 82321
Event Date Year 2010
Event Date Month 11
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 412804N
Event Location Longitude 1074605W
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 Pilot
Time of the weather observation
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID --
Elevation of weather observation facility --
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation --
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
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) -2
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -4
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator --
Wind Speed (knots) --
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator --
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.95
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) 29298
NTSB Notification Source FAA Operations Center
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Nov 25 2011 3:33PM
User who most recently changed record stam
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N6179Y
NTSB Number WPR11LA038
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
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 T210N
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 21064283
Certified Max Gross Weight 4000
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats 1
Passenger Seats 5
Total number of seats on the aircraft 6
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection May 30 2010 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 3044
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name CMS Automotive
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Woodridge
Aircraft Owner State NJ
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 07075
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Justin A. Thompson
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Woodridge
Operator State NJ
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 07075
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 KBBW
Departure City Broken Bow
Departure State NE
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1230
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code KBMC
Destination City Brigham City
Destination State UT
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Nov 25 2011 3:33PM
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 --