Cessna U206B N3830G

Summary

On 1 April 2012 at about 20:15 local time, a Cessna U206B registered N3830G, operated by DES Moines Skydivers LLC, was involved in an accident near Winterset, Iowa, United States. 7 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

1 April 2012 at 20:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Winterset, Iowa, United States

Nearest airport

Winterset Municipal Airport (3Y3)

Coordinates

41.3295, -94.0106

Aircraft

Cessna U206B

Registration

N3830G

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

DES Moines Skydivers LLC

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Skydiving

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Winterset → Winterset

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN12LA224

Nobody was injured.

The loss of oil pressure to the No. 4 connecting rod journal and the subsequent loss of engine power.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot stated that he departed the airport with six parachutists for a jump flight. As the airplane approached 1,000 feet above ground level, he noticed that the airplane wasn’t climbing. He checked the engine gauges and noticed that the engine analyzer was flashing “CHT” and the cylinder head temperature was 454 degrees F. As the pilot pitched the nose down and turned back to the airport, he heard a muffled “thud” sound and saw white smoke pour from the engine. As he prepared for a forced landing, four of the parachutists jumped from the airplane. The pilot then performed a forced landing in a field, coming to a stop near a dirt berm. An examination revealed a hole in the engine crankcase, near the No. 4 cylinder. Various pieces of metal, including part of a “quick oil drain plug” were found in the engine oil sump. The No. 4 connecting rod journal appeared distorted and displayed extensive heat signatures. The crankshaft journals on either side of the No. 4 rod journals did not appear to be distorted or to contain the same heat signatures and were coated with engine oil. The rod and crankshaft bearings were scored. The signatures on the engine were consistent with the loss of lubricant to the No. 4 connecting rod journal. A reason for the loss of engine oil to the journal was not found.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.