Cessna 177RG N177AR

Summary

On 28 March 1999 at about 02:12 local time, a Cessna 177RG registered N177AR was involved in an accident near Pottstown, Pennsylvania, United States. One person was 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

28 March 1999 at 02:12

Classification

Accident

Location

Pottstown, Pennsylvania, United States

Nearest airport

Pottstown Municipal (N47)

Coordinates

40.2498, -75.6407

Aircraft

Cessna 177RG

Registration

N177AR

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Reading → Ocean City

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Night/Dark

NTSB number

NYC99LA081

Nobody was injured.

The failure of maintenance personnel to properly inspect and torque the crankcase bolts.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

During a climb, the engine started to shake violently and lost power. A forced landing was made to a two-lane highway, and the airplane impacted an overpass support. Inspection of the wreckage revealed the number 2 cylinder had separated from the engine. Examination of the engine revealed sealant applied to the upper portion of the crankcase. The top crankcase fasteners were tested for torque, and began to turn before the specified 96-inch pounds recommended by the manufacturer. When the crankcase was split open, fretting to the parting surfaces was observed. The center main bearing exhibited signs of movement and fretting on the bearing saddle. Fretting was also found on the number 2 and 3 cylinder flanges and corresponding crankcase decks. The engine was last overhauled on July 14, 1994. The engine had accumulated a total time of 1285 hours since the overhaul. The top parting surface of the crankcase was resealed on February 7, 1997, November 20, 1998, and March 17, 1999. The last noted entry for tightening the crankcase bolts was on June 19, 1998. The number 2 and number 3 cylinder were last removed and replaced on April 2, 1997, by an overhaul facility.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.