Cessna 175B N8171T

Summary

On 7 October 1996 at about 03:30 local time, a Cessna 175B registered N8171T was involved in an accident near Mount Pleasant, Texas, United States. One person was on board and one was seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

7 October 1996 at 03:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Mount Pleasant, Texas, United States

Coordinates

33.1601, -94.9707

Aircraft

Cessna 175B

Registration

N8171T

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Idabel → Mount Pleasant

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Night/Dark

NTSB number

FTW97LA006

1 person was seriously injured.

The total loss of engine power due to the #3 connecting rod separation resulting in engine seizure. Factors were the dark night and the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

According to the pilot, during cruise flight at 5,000 feet MSL, he smelled oil burning. As engine RPM decreased, the oil pressure dropped toward zero. Subsequently, there was an 'explosion' and the engine seized. During the ensuing forced landing, the airplane impacted trees, and came to rest on the ground in a left wing down attitude. A 3 inch diameter hole was found in the crankcase above the #3 cylinder attach point and the #3 connecting rod was separated. During engine disassembly, one of the connecting rod cap bolts for the #3 cylinder was found destroyed. One of the nuts for the #3 connecting rod cap was found laying in the piston skirt, separated from its bolt. The exterior of the nut and its threads were undamaged to the naked eye. No loose cotter pins were found within the engine. All other connecting rod cap bolts were found attached and cotter pinned. The end cap of the #2 piston pin was missing. The inner surface of the #2 cylinder barrel exhibited longitudinal scoring in the direction of piston action, corresponding to the diameter of the piston pin. 1 day prior to the accident, oil was changed and metal particles were found on the oil screen.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.