Cessna 172R N9417Z

Summary

On 5 March 2014 at about 16:56 local time, a Cessna 172R registered N9417Z was involved in an accident near Jackson, Tennessee, United States. 2 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

5 March 2014 at 16:56

Classification

Accident

Location

Jackson, Tennessee, United States

Nearest airport

McKellar Sipes Regional (MKL)

Coordinates

35.6000, -88.9156

Aircraft

Cessna 172R

Registration

N9417Z

Category

Airplane

Year built

1997

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Jackson → Augusta

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

IMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA14LA142

Nobody was injured.

A total loss of engine power due to maintenance personnel’s improper installation of the lower vacuum pump.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that, during the climb after takeoff in instrument meteorological conditions, he noted that the engine was losing oil pressure rapidly. He immediately made a 180-degree turn to return to the departure airport. While inbound on the instrument landing system (ILS) approach, he realized that the airplane was too high, so he executed a 360-degree descending turn. He then again proceeded inbound on the ILS approach. He continued the descent but, because the airplane had not captured the glideslope, he executed a missed approach. He then circled the airplane around and re-established the airplane on the localizer. Subsequently, the engine lost all power, and the airplane began descending. The pilot subsequently landed the airplane on a road just north of the airport. During the landing, the right wing impacted a highway sign, which resulted in substantial damage to the right wing. The airplane then veered right and entered a cornfield. Examination of the wreckage revealed the presence of oil on the back of the engine, firewall, and belly. The engine was started with the engine cowling removed, and oil was observed to appear on the back of the accessory pad near the lower vacuum pump. Further examination of the area revealed that the accessory drive adapter gasket was the source of the leak. Review of the airplane's maintenance records revealed that, on the day before the accident, the lower vacuum pump had been removed and that a new vacuum pump, shaft seal, and accessory drive adapter gasket had been installed. Examination revealed that the proper gasket was installed; however, it was distorted and showed signs of excessive compression and "squeezeout," which indicated that the nuts had been overtorqued during installation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.