Cessna 182C N511W

Summary

On 3 October 2022 at about 03:00 local time, a Cessna 182C registered N511W was involved in an accident near Boulder City, Nevada, United States. 2 people were 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

3 October 2022 at 03:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Boulder City, Nevada, United States

Coordinates

36.1227, -114.5135

Aircraft

Cessna 182C

Registration

N511W

Category

Airplane

Year built

1959

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Grand Canyon National Park Airport → North Las Vegas Airport

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Night

NTSB number

WPR23LA003

1 person had minor injuries.

A total loss of engine power due to oil starvation resulting from the failure of an engine oil filter adapter fiber gasket.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot and pilot-rated passenger departed Grand Canyon National Park Airport after a fuel stop in Las Vegas, Nevada. About 30 minutes into the flight the pilot noticed a low oil pressure indication and declared an emergency. Moments later the engine sustained a total power loss and the engine seized. When it became evident the airplane could not make it to the airport, the pilot made the decision to ditch the airplane into a nearby lake. The airplane was substantially damaged during the water landing. Postaccident examination of the engine revealed discoloration of the cylinder and bearing surfaces consistent with high heat signatures due to oil starvation. The engine examination revealed no preimpact mechanical anomalies except for the oil filter adapter housing, which was loose, and the gasket was torn and deformed. As the oil level was likely normal at the pilot’s previous stop and the pilot did not notice any unusual reductions in oil quantity during the service life of the engine, it is likely that the oil started to leak during the accident flight. The failure of the gasket likely allowed engine oil to exit the crankcase rapidly, resulting in oil starvation and the subsequent catastrophic failure. A review of the engine maintenance records revealed no entries that the oil filter gasket had been inspected in accordance with the mandatory service bulletin, nor was it required.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.