Cessna 177RG N2144Q

Summary

On 19 June 2007 at about 01:45 local time, a Cessna 177RG registered N2144Q was involved in an accident near Oceanside, California, United States. 2 people were on board. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

19 June 2007 at 01:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Oceanside, California, United States

Coordinates

33.1819, -117.3044

Aircraft

Cessna 177RG

Registration

N2144Q

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Carlsbad → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

SEA07LA172

Injuries not recorded.

The improper installation of the propeller governor (gasket) by maintenance personnel, which resulted in a oil exhaustion induced total loss of engine power. Contributing to the accident was the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

During the first flight after installation of an overhauled engine, overhauled propeller and overhauled propeller governor, the airplane's engine lost power, and the pilot made a forced landing on an interstate highway in a major metropolitan area. During the landing, the airplane's left wing struck a car. The pilot stated that he selected the highway as a landing area "as everything else was rooftops." Examination of the engine revealed an uncontained catastrophic failure of the number four connecting rod. There was significant heat distress at the number four connecting rod, and adjacent components consistent with lack of oil lubrication. The oil dipstick did not register any oil in the sump, and a significant oil film was on the firewall and belly. The propeller governor was found installed contrary to the engine manufacturer's Parts Catalog and Service Instructions. A single gasket was used to mount the governor instead of the required plate sandwiched between two gaskets. A clear and evident oil path was seen from the edge of the single gasket. The improper governor installation allowed engine oil to leak overboard, resulting in a loss of lubrication and failure of the number four connecting rod.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.