Cessna 177B N19708

Summary

On 28 May 1996 at about 22:05 local time, a Cessna 177B registered N19708 was involved in an accident near Chatham, Massachusetts, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

28 May 1996 at 22:05

Classification

Accident

Location

Chatham, Massachusetts, United States

Nearest airport

Chatham (CQX)

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

Cessna 177B

Registration

N19708

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Beverly → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

NYC96LA117

2 people had minor injuries.

failure of the oil pump, which resulted in oil starvation and subsequent failure of the number two and four cylinder connecting rods. Also causal was inadequate maintenance by noncompliance with the airworthiness directive that required replacement of the oil pump.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot/owner was 4 miles from the destination airport when the engine lost power. This was followed by white smoke, oil, and flames from under the engine cowling, and a complete loss of engine power. A forced landing was then accomplished to a pond. Examination of the engine revealed the engine oil pump had failed, and the number two and four cylinder connecting rods were separated from the crankshaft. An FAA Airworthiness Directive, AD 81-18-04, was issued in 1981, which required the replacement of the oil pump sintered iron impellers within 25 hours of service after the effective date of the AD. A review of the airplane maintenance records revealed that the AD had not been complied with, but was 'signed off' as not applicable until the 2,000 hour engine overhaul. The pilot/owner was a certified airframe and power plant mechanic and had performed four of the airplane's last six annual inspections. The last two annual inspections had been completed by another mechanic. The engine had accumulated over 1,500 hours since AD 81-18-04 was issued.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.