Cessna A188B N53172

Summary

On 22 September 1997 at about 13:33 local time, a Cessna A188B registered N53172, operated by Aduda & Sons, was involved in an accident near Zellwood, Florida, 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

22 September 1997 at 13:33

Classification

Accident

Location

Zellwood, Florida, United States

Coordinates

28.7294, -81.6000

Aircraft

Cessna A188B

Registration

N53172

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Aduda & Sons

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ATL97LA136

1 person had minor injuries.

failure of mechanics to adequately torque the crankcase through-bolts following a top overhaul, which subsequently resulted in a crankshaft failure. Soft/uneven terrain in the emergency landing area was a related factor.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

According to the pilot, a loss of engine power occurred, while he was applying insecticide to a farm. A force landing was made in a plowed field. During the landing, the airplane encountered a small ditch in soft terrain, and the airplane nosed over. Examination of the maintenance records revealed that a top overhaul of the engine had been accomplished, 7 days before the accident. Postaccident examination of the engine revealed a fractured crankshaft. Multiple origin sites of the fracture were found from the surface of the journal radius. There was evidence that inadequate torque had been applied to the crankcase through-bolts. The #2 main bearing had moved fore and aft in the bearing bore and had rotated in the crankcase; there was heavy fretting at the #2 and #3 main bearing boss parting surfaces; and there was evidence of severe pounding from lack of support that had started a breakup of the #2 bearing.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.