Wirestrike Accident Cessna 172P Skyhawk II N54872,
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ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 141544
 
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Date:Tuesday 3 January 2012
Time:21:45
Type:Silhouette image of generic C172 model; specific model in this crash may look slightly different    
Cessna 172P Skyhawk II
Owner/operator:Civil Air Patrol
Registration: N54872
MSN: 172-75074
Total airframe hrs:4757 hours
Engine model:Lycoming O-360-A4M
Fatalities:Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1
Aircraft damage: Substantial
Category:Accident
Location:Conroe, TX -   United States of America
Phase: En route
Nature:Unknown
Departure airport:Houston-West Houston Airport, TX (IWS/KIWS)
Destination airport:Conroe-North Houston Regional Airport, TX (CXO/KCXO)
Investigating agency: NTSB
Confidence Rating: Accident investigation report completed and information captured
Narrative:
The airplane was at 1,600 feet mean sea level with the engine power set at 2,300 rpm. When the airplane was about 6 miles from the airport, the pilot heard a loud “boom” and the engine lost all power. The pilot did not have sufficient altitude to glide to the airport, so he landed the airplane on 6th Street. When the airplane was on final approach to land, it collided with power lines. The pilot was able to land the airplane, but was forced to swerve to the right to avoid oncoming traffic. The right wing struck a utility pole, which resulted in substantial damage.

A postaccident engine examination revealed that when the crankshaft was turned, there was no movement of the intake or exhaust valves or magneto gears. The rear crank gear bolt was loose and the gear dowel pin was sheared, which would cause the camshaft and rear accessory gears to stop turning. Metallurgical examination revealed beach markings at the aft end of the crankshaft approximately in plane with the aft face of the crankshaft where it mated to the crankshaft gear. There was fretting damage on the crankshaft gear, wear on the dowel pins, and wear on the lock washer, indicative of movement as a result of insufficient clamping force from the attachment bolt at the time of installation. The engine had accrued 752 hours since it was overhauled in August 2007.
Probable Cause: Failure of the rear crankshaft gear dowel pin due to improper installation, which resulted in a total loss of engine power.

Accident investigation:
cover
  
Investigating agency: NTSB
Report number: CEN12TA122
Status: Investigation completed
Duration: 3 months
Download report: Final report

Sources:

NTSB

Location

Revision history:

Date/timeContributorUpdates
04-Jan-2012 04:49 gerard57 Added
04-Jan-2012 05:46 gerard57 Updated [Aircraft type]
04-Jan-2012 05:46 PC 12 Updated [Aircraft type, Cn, Operator]
04-Jan-2012 15:10 Alpine Flight Updated [Time, Aircraft type, Operator, Location, Departure airport]
04-Jan-2012 22:53 RobertMB Updated [Source, Narrative]
13-Jan-2012 13:56 Dr. John Smith Updated [Time, Location, Destination airport, Source, Narrative]
13-Jan-2012 14:08 Dr. John Smith Updated [Location, Source, Narrative]
22-May-2012 22:26 Geno Updated [Location, Source, Narrative]
21-Dec-2016 19:26 ASN Update Bot Updated [Time, Damage, Category, Investigating agency]
27-Nov-2017 17:53 ASN Update Bot Updated [Operator, Other fatalities, Nature, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Narrative]
31-May-2023 13:50 Ron Averes Updated [[Operator, Other fatalities, Nature, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Narrative]]

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