Cessna 172R N158RA

Summary

On 17 September 2001 at about 20:38 local time, a Cessna 172R registered N158RA, operated by Jonathan O. Jones, was involved in an accident near Orlando, Florida, 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

17 September 2001 at 20:38

Classification

Accident

Location

Orlando, Florida, United States

Coordinates

28.5333, -81.5167

Aircraft

Cessna 172R

Registration

N158RA

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Jonathan O. Jones

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Orlando → Ocala

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ATL01LA110

Nobody was injured.

The improper installation of the engine vacuum pump by maintenance personnel which resulted in oil exhaustion and the subsequent loss of engine power. A factor was the none-suitable terrain.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

During cruise flight the engine lost oil pressure and the pilot continued to fly in an attempt to get back to his departure point, however the engine seized before the pilot could reach the departure point. The pilot made a forced landing into unsuitable terrain substantially damaging the airplane, however, the pilot and pilot rated passenger were not injured. Examination of the engine found the two bottom attachment screws for the upper (left) vacuum pump loose. Approximately one quart of oil was found in the engine and oil filter. The underside of the airplane was coated with oil from the firewall to the tail mooring point. No anomalies were found with the oil pump or oil lines. A review of the airfrane maintenance logbooks revealed that the left vacuum pump and been removed and replaced on the same day of the accident prior to the accident flight. An oil leak test was performed on another 172R. The two lower nuts of the upper vacuum pump were loosened and the engine was run near full static RPM for five minutes. Oil began leaking from the vacuum pump as soon as the engine was started. After five minutes, the back of the engine, the lower cowling, engine accessories and the ground were partially covered with oil. According to the Cessna pilot operating handbook under emergency procedures, the pilot's should have landed at the nearest airport to inspect for the source of the loss of oil pressure.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.