Cessna 175 N8512X

Summary

On 15 August 1998 at about 22:20 local time, a Cessna 175 registered N8512X, operated by Bill Hinkle, was involved in an accident near Missoula, Montana, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

15 August 1998 at 22:20

Classification

Accident

Location

Missoula, Montana, United States

Coordinates

46.8496, -113.9894

Aircraft

Cessna 175

Registration

N8512X

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Bill Hinkle

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Kalispell → Caldwell

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

SEA98LA166

Nobody was injured.

A complete loss of crankcase oil due to a missing oil filler tube followed by the failure of a connecting rod. Factors include encountering a small pine tree during the landing roll.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

While in cruise flight, the pilot smelled smoke and noticed a loss of oil pressure. He therefore found an open field in which he could make an emergency landing. After arriving over the field, the engine stopped running and the pilot made a forced landing. During the landing roll, the aircraft's nose gear was torn off when it hit a small pine tree. After the gear was torn off, the aircraft nosed over. A post-accident inspection of the engine revealed that the number three connecting rod had failed and passed through the crankcase. It was also noted that the oil filler tube was missing, and no oil was found in the crankcase.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.