Winterset Municipal Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Winterset, Iowa 50273
Sunday, April 1, 2012 15:15 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot stated that he departed the airport with six parachutists for a jump flight. As the airplane approached 1,000 feet above ground level, he noticed that the airplane wasn’t climbing. He checked the engine gauges and noticed that the engine analyzer was flashing “CHT” and the cylinder head temperature was 454 degrees F. As the pilot pitched the nose down and turned back to the airport, he heard a muffled “thud” sound and saw white smoke pour from the engine. As he prepared for a forced landing, four of the parachutists jumped from the airplane. The pilot then performed a forced landing in a field, coming to a stop near a dirt berm. An examination revealed a hole in the engine crankcase, near the No. 4 cylinder. Various pieces of metal, including part of a “quick oil drain plug” were found in the engine oil sump. The No. 4 connecting rod journal appeared distorted and displayed extensive heat signatures. The crankshaft journals on either side of the No. 4 rod journals did not appear to be distorted or to contain the same heat signatures and were coated with engine oil. The rod and crankshaft bearings were scored. The signatures on the engine were consistent with the loss of lubricant to the No. 4 connecting rod journal. A reason for the loss of engine oil to the journal was not found.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The loss of oil pressure to the No. 4 connecting rod journal and the subsequent loss of engine power.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/1/2012
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1515
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City Winterset
Event State IOWA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 50273
Event Date Year 2012
Event Date Month 4
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude --
Event Location Longitude --
Event Location Airport Winterset Municipal Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 3Y3
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 1454 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 45
Weather Observation Facility ID KDSM
Elevation of weather observation facility --
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 19
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 25000
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) --
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 29
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 17
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 170
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 10
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.54
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 7
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 31085
NTSB Notification Source 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 7 2013 12:48PM
User who most recently changed record bowl
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N3830G
NTSB Number CEN12LA224
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed Unknown
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name CESSNA
Aircraft Model U206B
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number U206-0830
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 6
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Mar 22 2012 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 6966
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name DES MOINES SKYDIVERS LLC
Aircraft Owner Street Address PO BOX 5056
Aircraft Owner City DES MOINES
Aircraft Owner State IA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 50305-5056
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name DES MOINES SKYDIVERS LLC
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address PO BOX 5056
Operator City DES MOINES
Operator State IA
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 50305-5056
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) Skydiving
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code 3Y3
Departure City Winterset
Departure State IA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time --
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code 3Y3
Destination City Winterset
Destination State IA
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Feb 26 2013 10:10AM
User who most recently changed record hatc
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 --