Cessna 172 N6698A

Summary

On 26 April 1993 at about 00:40 local time, a Cessna 172 registered N6698A was involved in an accident near Bullhead City, Arizona, United States. 3 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

26 April 1993 at 00:40

Classification

Accident

Location

Bullhead City, Arizona, United States

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

Cessna 172

Registration

N6698A

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Overton → Phoenix

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX93FA190

Nobody was injured.

a fatigue failure of the crankshaft due to improper assembly of the engine during the major overhaul.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The aircraft was in cruise flight at 7,500 feet when the pilot heard five loud bangs after which the engine seized. The pilot attempted an emergency landing in a farm field and collided with rough terrain and a fence. Examination of the maintenance records revealed that the engine had been in service for about 35 years and had been majored twice during 2,000 total operating hours. The most recent major overhaul occurred 13 years and 344 hours prior to the accident. Internal examination of the engine disclosed that the crankshaft had failed in fatigue at the number two main journal. Detailed metallurgical examination revealed that the number one bearing insert had been mispositioned during assembly of the crankcase causing a localized oil flow restriction to the main bearings and an eventual fatigue failure of the crankshaft.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.