Cessna 182 N3537C

Summary

On 28 October 2020 at about 15:40 local time, a Cessna 182 registered N3537C, operated by Flying Neutrons LLC, was involved in an accident near Lebanon, Ohio, 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

28 October 2020 at 15:40

Classification

Accident

Location

Lebanon, Ohio, United States

Nearest airport

Warren County Airport (I68)

Coordinates

39.4314, -84.2563

Aircraft

Cessna 182

Registration

N3537C

Category

Airplane

Year built

2001

Engines

1

Operator

Flying Neutrons LLC

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Batavia → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

IMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN21LA034

Nobody was injured.

Improper maintenance that resulted in a blocked crankcase breather port and a subsequent total 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 and passenger were on a cross-country flight after maintenance personnel installed new avionics in the airplane. While at cruise altitude, the engine began to knock and vibrate and subsequently the engine lost all power. The pilot was unable to maintain altitude or reach an airport and landed the airplane in a field. The airplane overran the field and impacted trees; the wings and fuselage sustained substantial damage. The wreckage was examined, and a plastic cap was found installed on the engine crankcase breather port; the engine crankcase seal was found dislodged. Oil was found on the underside of the engine compartment and cowling. The blocked breather port likely allowed excessive pressure to build up inside the engine and resulted in the dislodged crankcase seal and a loss of oil. The investigation determined the mechanic who installed the avionics on the airplane also performed maintenance on the engine, which was outside of the repair station’s operations specifications. The mechanic did not have technical data for the work performed on the engine, did not document the work performed, and did not remove the plastic cap from the crankcase breather port following the installation of avionics. The accident is consistent with a total loss of engine power due to oil starvation as a result of improper maintenance.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.