Cessna 177 N9058F

Summary

On 15 May 2018 at about 18:55 local time, a Cessna 177 registered N9058F was involved in an accident near Fort Wayne, Indiana, 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 May 2018 at 18:55

Classification

Accident

Location

Fort Wayne, Indiana, United States

Nearest airport

Smith Field (SMD)

Coordinates

41.1700, -85.1800

Aircraft

Cessna 177

Registration

N9058F

Category

Airplane

Year built

1967

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Fort Wayne → Fort Wayne

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN18LA174

Nobody was injured.

The failure of the oil cooler due to a defect in the brazed joint, which resulted in a loss of engine power due to oil starvation.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that he had departed on a local flight and leveled the airplane at 2,600 ft mean sea level when he observed a drop in engine rpm and heard a "thumping" sound from the engine. The pilot reversed course to return to the airport; the noise increased, he smelled burning oil, and the engine subsequently quit. The pilot conducted a forced landing to a field, during which the nose landing gear collapsed and the wings sustained substantial damage. An examination of the airplane revealed no oil on the engine dipstick; however, oil was coming out of the oil cooler, and oil was visible on the right side of the cowling. Maintenance records indicated that the engine, including the oil cooler, was new and had been installed about 8 hours before the accident flight. An examination of the oil cooler revealed that the leak came from between the plates forming the oil circuit; it was likely due to a defect in the brazed joint between the plates. The engine lost power due to oil starvation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.