Cessna 172H N275SW

Summary

On 8 March 2003 at about 18:00 local time, a Cessna 172H registered N275SW was involved in an accident near Callao, Missouri, United States. One person was on board and one 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

8 March 2003 at 18:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Callao, Missouri, United States

Nearest airport

Private (PVT)

Coordinates

39.7500, -92.6333

Aircraft

Cessna 172H

Registration

N275SW

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Callao → Macon

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CHI03LA082

1 person had minor injuries.

A loss of engine power due to the erosion of the number 2 piston, resulting in loss of compression on that cylinder. Contributing factors were the tailwind, the muddy runway condition, and the roadway and ditch.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The aircraft was substantially damaged during a forced landing at a private airstrip. According to the pilot's statement, shortly after departure, approximately 3 miles west of the airstrip, the engine "started cutting out." He reported that he applied carburetor heat and checked the mixture, however, the engine performance did not improve. At that point, he decided to return to the local airstrip. The pilot stated: "Approximately 1/2 mile away I slowed down and added 20 degrees of flaps. As I approached the threshold end at a heading of 090 degrees, I applied more flaps. The airplane stayed in ground [effect] and didn't land until about 2/3 of the way down the runway. Upon touchdown I took out all flaps as the airplane slid down the grass/muddy runway. The airplane slid off the end of the runway with the nose wheel striking a gravel road and breaking off. The airplane then flipped over coming to rest upside down in the road ditch." The pilot reported that he decided to approach straight-in, for a downwind landing, due to the lack of available power, as well as the rising terrain and two sets of power lines east of the airstrip. He noted that he was slightly fast on final approach. According to the pilot, his preflight weather briefing advised of winds from 240 degrees at 14 knots. Winds reported 20nm north of the accident site were from 330 degrees at 17 knots. During a post accident examination, no compression was obtained on engine cylinder 2. The number 2 cylinder was removed and the cylinder and piston were inspected. The bottom edge of the number 2 piston head was eroded and burned. The damage extended past the piston rings and included a hole in the side of the piston. In addition, the side of the piston as well as the cylinder wall, exhibited scoring in the direction of piston travel. The piston rings were broken. The condition of the piston was consistent with pre-ignition.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.