Cessna 182RG N9318R

Summary

On 6 January 2004 at about 00:25 local time, a Cessna 182RG registered N9318R was involved in an accident near El Dorado, Arkansas, United States. 2 people were on board and one died, one was seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

6 January 2004 at 00:25

Classification

Accident

Location

El Dorado, Arkansas, United States

Nearest airport

South Arkansas Regional (ELD)

Coordinates

33.2208, -92.8131

Aircraft

Cessna 182RG

Registration

N9318R

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

El Dorado → Memphis

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Night

NTSB number

FTW04FA057

1 person died.

The loss of engine power as a result of loss of engine oil due to the failure of the oil filter converter plate gasket and the noncompliance to an airworthiness directive. Contributing factors were the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing and the dark night lighting conditions.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The 1,643.4-hour pilot reported that during cruise flight on a dark night, he saw "sparks under the cowling in front, and lost cylinders one, two, and three, according to the engine monitoring unit installed in the airplane." The pilot attempted to return to the airport, but the engine lost power, and he initiated a forced landing to a field with the flaps and gear retracted. Examination of the airplane revealed visible signs of oil streaks were observed throughout the entire length of the bottom of the fuselage. Flight control continuity was established throughout the airplane at the accident site. Examination of the engine revealed that the oil filter converter plate gasket was extruded in multiple locations. An Emergency Airworthiness Directive (AD) had previously been issued requiring the replacement of the oil filter converter plate gasket, but no entries were found in the airplane maintenance log books pertaining to its compliance.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.