Loss of Engine Power (Partial): Cessna 172Q Cutlass, N96145; accident occurred January 16, 2020 at Big Timber Airport (6S0), Sweet Grass County, Montana

Aviation Accident Factual Report - National Transportation Safety Board

The National Transportation Safety Board did not travel to the scene of this accident.

Additional Participating Entities:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Helena, Montana

Textron Aviation; Wichita, Kansas

Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket

Doing Business As  Aviation Adventures 

https://registry.faa.gov/N96145

Location: Big Timber, Montana

Accident Number: WPR20LA068

Date and Time: January 16, 2020, 20:00 Local 

Registration: N96145

Aircraft: Cessna 172Q

Aircraft Damage: Substantial

Defining Event: Loss of engine power (partial) 

Injuries: 2 None

Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Instructional

Factual Information

On January 16, 2020, about 2000 mountain standard time, a Cessna 172Q airplane, N96145, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Big Timber, Montana. The instructor and student pilot were not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight. 

According to the flight instructor, after an uneventful flight, the student pilot configured the airplane to land on runway 24 at Big Timber Airport (6S0), Big Timber, Montana. While on approach, the student pilot wanted to perform a go around because the airplane was too high for a normal approach to landing, but the instructor had the student perform an approach over the runway instead. The instructor noted that his student’s initial climb actions were consistent with the airplane checklist. The student pilot added that the attempted climbout was in dark night conditions. They leveled the airplane off at 200 ft agl and flew the full length of the runway before continuing the climb at the departure end of the runway at an airspeed of 80 knots (kts).

As the airplane passed about 250 ft agl in a climb to their desired altitude of about 500 ft agl, the airplane lost power, made a vibration-induced sound, and experienced a slow drop in airspeed from the initial climb speed of 80 kts. In a subsequent statement, the instructor reported that the engine lost all power after the airplane established a climb; the student pilot could not recall if the engine lost all power. As the airplane slowed to 70 kts, the instructor took the controls from the student and began a left turn towards the airport. According to the student pilot, the engine began to make a sound that resembled an engine knock after the instructor started the left turn, but he did not observe any vibrations or engine roughness. The instructor verified the throttle control was at full power and noted that the noise was continuous.

According to the instructor, the tachometer indicated 2,100 rpm when the airplane reached 65 kts, which was 200 rpm less than what the instructor expected during climbout. According to the student pilot, the instructor appeared to have difficulty capturing and maintaining the selected airspeed of 65 kts. The instructor pitched the airplane for an airspeed of 50 kts and made a right turn moments before the airplane impacted the ground.

According to a diagram furnished by the instructor, the airplane impacted the ground about 425 yards northwest of runway 24 and slid about 125 yards before it came to rest. The instructor located an approximate 1-ft-long section of blade in the debris path. The propeller blade tip was not recovered. The airplane flipped over inverted the following day due to weather.

Photographs of the accident site revealed substantial damage to the airplane’s fuselage. 

Airframe and Engine Exam

Postaccident examination of the fuel system components, which included the fuel filter, gascolator, fuel lines, and fuel selector valve, revealed that they were free of obstructions, corrosion, or visible leaks. Examination of the carburetor did not reveal any anomalies. Continuity of the throttle, mixture, and carburetor heat cables were verified from the cockpit to the engine, and flight control authority was continuous from the cockpit to each flight control surface.

Rotational continuity of the crankshaft and valvetrain were observed as the propeller was rotated by hand. All rocker arms and push rods actuated in equal ranges of operation while the propeller was rotated. The magnetos functioned normally when actuated by hand and the ignition harness each produced spark as the magnetos were rotated; however, the no. 1 top and bottom leads did not display sparks that were consistent with the magneto click. The spark plugs each displayed varying amounts of wear and were placed in a spark plug tester for an impulse test. During the impulse test, the cylinder no.1 bottom spark plug failed to display spark despite having been cleaned prior to testing; the other spark plugs produced sparks. A borescope inspection of the no. 1 cylinder revealed trace amounts of a liquid that resembled water; the other cylinders did not reveal any signs of catastrophic internal failure, heat damage, or scoring. The air induction system could not be properly evaluated because the heat box and air filter were not recovered after the accident.

The propeller impacted frozen ground during the accident and one of the two propeller blades separated in two pieces, but only one of the pieces was recovered. Together, the separated blade and recovered piece exhibited bending and tip curling.

Materials Laboratory Examination

Examination of the fractured blade and its recovered fragment by the National Transportation Safety Board Materials Laboratory revealed signatures consistent with overstress. Small cracks were observed at each bolt hole on the forward spinner bulkhead, and the cracks displayed fretting consistent with contact under vibration loads between the forward spinner face and the washers under the bolt heads. Additionally, the fracture surface of each crack exhibited ratchet marks, which were consistent with fatigue. The spinner itself was intact and did not exhibit any indication of distortion due to fatigue cracking. The Materials Laboratory’s examination of the other propeller blade revealed that it was intact and remained attached to the hub but was bent aft about midspan and displayed evidence of tip curling, chordwise scoring, and leading-edge gouges.

Student pilot Information

Certificate: Student 

Age: 35, Male

Airplane Rating(s): None 

Seat Occupied: Left

Other Aircraft Rating(s): None

Restraint Used: 3-point

Instrument Rating(s): None

Second Pilot Present: No

Instructor Rating(s): None

Toxicology Performed: No

Medical Certification: Class 2 With waivers/limitations 

Last FAA Medical Exam: February 13, 2019

Occupational Pilot: No 

Last Flight Review or Equivalent:

Flight Time: 50 hours (Total, all aircraft), 50 hours (Total, this make and model), 3 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft), 8 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 6 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft), 4 hours (Last 24 hours, all aircraft)

Flight instructor Information

Certificate: Commercial; Flight instructor 

Age: 59,Male

Airplane Rating(s): Single-engine land; Multi-engine land

Seat Occupied: Right

Other Aircraft Rating(s): None

Restraint Used: 3-point

Instrument Rating(s): Airplane 

Second Pilot Present: No

Instructor Rating(s): Airplane multi-engine; Airplane single-engine

Toxicology Performed: No

Medical Certification: Class 2 Without waivers/limitations

Last FAA Medical Exam: January 9, 2019

Occupational Pilot: Yes

Last Flight Review or Equivalent: August 12, 2019

Flight Time: 4736 hours (Total, all aircraft), 3788 hours (Total, this make and model), 4667 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft), 150 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 19 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft), 3 hours (Last 24 hours, all aircraft)

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: Cessna

Registration: N96145

Model/Series: 172Q P 

Aircraft Category: Airplane

Year of Manufacture: 1983 

Amateur Built:

Airworthiness Certificate: Normal

Serial Number: 17276029

Landing Gear Type: Tricycle

Seats: 4

Date/Type of Last Inspection: October 25, 2019 Annual

Certified Max Gross Wt.: 2550 lbs

Time Since Last Inspection: 38 Hrs

Engines: 1 Reciprocating

Airframe Total Time: 12313 Hrs as of last inspection

Engine Manufacturer: Lycoming

ELT: C91 installed

Engine Model/Series: O-360-A4N

Registered Owner:

Rated Power: 180 Horsepower

Operator: On file 

Operating Certificate(s) Held: None

Operator Does Business As: Aviation Adventures 

Operator Designator Code:

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: Visual (VMC) 

Condition of Light: Day

Observation Facility, Elevation: 6S0,4493 ft msl

Distance from Accident Site:

Observation Time: 19:55 Local

Direction from Accident Site:

Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear 

Visibility: 10 miles

Lowest Ceiling: None

Visibility (RVR):

Wind Speed/Gusts: / 

Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual:  /

Wind Direction:

Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual:  /

Altimeter Setting: 29.71 inches Hg

Temperature/Dew Point: -7°C / -12°C

Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation

Departure Point: Billings, MT (BIL) 

Type of Flight Plan Filed: VFR

Destination: Big Timber, MT (6S0)

Type of Clearance: VFR

Departure Time: 19:10 Local 

Type of Airspace: Class G

Airport Information

Airport: Big Timber 6S0 

Runway Surface Type: Asphalt

Airport Elevation: 4494 ft msl

Runway Surface Condition: Snow

Runway Used: 24 

IFR Approach: None

Runway Length/Width: 5285 ft / 75 ft

VFR Approach/Landing: Go around; Traffic pattern

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 2 None

Aircraft Damage: Substantial

Passenger Injuries:

Aircraft Fire: None

Ground Injuries:

Aircraft Explosion: None

Total Injuries: 2 None

Latitude, Longitude: 45.810001,-109.980003 (est)

Certified flight instructor George Schmalz has taught many students the protocol and procedures that need to be followed when a plane is on the verge of crashing. 

On Thursday, he had to follow his own advice.

Jacob Karp, Schmalz’s student, was flying a Cessna 172 from the Billings International Airport on Thursday night toward the Big Timber Airport.

Karp conducted a low approach about 200 feet above the airport's runway, quickly turning around and climbing up to altitude for takeoff back to Billings.

At 400 feet in the air, the pair started to hear “a vibrating, clacking sound in the engine” for about 30 seconds. The plane began losing speed.

Schmalz took over the controls on the passenger side and turned the plane 180 degrees toward the airport's flatter terrain.

“It happens real fast and you’re just making a lot of decisions as quickly as you can, so you’re hoping you made the right decisions as you go along,” Schmalz said, who is an instructor for Aviation Adventures in Billings.

It was a dark, moonless night, he said, and the cockpit had gone dark since the plane was losing power. Schmalz said he didn’t even see the ground approaching. All he could do was maintain control of the plane.

It crashed nose first on its left side and slid over the snowy grass for about 125 yards on the southwest corner of the airfield around 8 p.m. that night.

After the crash, Schmalz and Karp were able to escape the wreckage and call 911 on their cell phones. They were met by emergency medical response crews and the Sweet Grass County Sheriff's Office on scene. They were taken to Pioneer Medical Clinic with bumps and bruises.

Within an hour of getting medical treatment, they were able to walk away from the clinic.

“We’re very fortunate,” he said.

The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the crash according to FAA spokesperson Allen Kenitzer. Schmalz said that reports are often used to identify if it’s a manufactured mechanical issue and to prevent future crashes.

As the site is being investigated, high winds in Big Timber caused the plane to flip over on its top on Friday.

“It appeared to be a total loss on the aircraft,” Schmalz said.

Aviation Adventures is a flight school in Billings and offers in-air instruction as well as a flight simulator. The school certifies students for private pilot, instrument and commercial licensing.

The Cessna 172Q Cutlass was the only aircraft the school had, but plans to file an insurance claim on the plane are in the works after the investigation. Renting, leasing or buying another aircraft will be the next step.

One of the requirements during training is to have a student fly during the night, Schmalz said. The idea was to fly more than 50 nautical miles in the dark and return back to Billings that night. Schmalz said Karp learned a lot from the experience and should be continuing his training.

The incident reminded Schmalz of the recent plane crash about 25 miles north of Billings that killed four men last weekend.

The Sweet Grass County Sheriff’s Office, the Big Timber Volunteer Fire Department and the Sweet Grass County Ambulance Service responded to the scene within minutes. He said they owe their lives to the crews who helped them.

“They did a really good job taking care of us,” Schmalz said.


https://billingsgazette.com

The Sweet Grass County Sheriff’s Office, Big Timber Volunteer Fire Department and Sweet Grass County Ambulance Service responded report of a plane crash at 8 p.m., January 16th, at Big Timber Airport. The two occupants of the aircraft self-extricated and were met by EMS personnel on scene. Both parties were taken to Pioneer Medical Center for assessment of minor injuries. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has been notified and will continue to investigate the crash.  -Sweet Grass Co Sheriff's Office

Location: Big Timber, MT
Accident Number: WPR20LA068
Date & Time: 01/16/2020, 2000 MST
Registration: N96145
Aircraft: Cessna 172Q
Injuries: 2 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Instructional 

On January 16, 2020, about 2000 mountain standard time, a Cessna 172Q airplane, N96145, was substantially damaged when it impacted the ground following a total loss of engine power near Big Timber Airport (6S0), Big Timber, Montana. The flight instructor and student pilot were not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by the flight instructor as an instructional flight, conducted under the provision of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a visual flight rules flight plan was filed for the cross-country flight, which departed Billings Logan International Airport (BIL), Billings, Montana at 1910.

According to the flight instructor, after an uneventful flight, the student pilot configured the airplane to land on runway 24 at 6S0. During the approach he chose to perform a go around maneuver as the airplane was too high, but performed a low approach over the runway instead at the request of his instructor. The instructor noted that his student's initial climb actions were consistent with the airplane checklist. They leveled the airplane off at 200 feet above ground level (agl) and flew the full length of the runway before continuing the climbout at the departure end of the runway at 80 kts.

As the airplane passed about 250 ft agl in a climb to their desired altitude of about 500 ft agl, the instructor observed a rattling sound accompanied by a slow drop in airspeed. At 70 kts, the instructor took the controls from the student and began a left turn towards the airport. He verified the throttle control was at the firewall and noted that the rattling sound was continuous. As the airspeed dropped to 65 kts he noted that the engine rpm was at 2,100 when he expected 2,300. The instructor pitched the airplane for 50 kts and made a right turn moments before the airplane impacted the ground.

According to a diagram furnished by the instructor, the airplane impacted the ground about 425 yards northwest of runway 24 and slid about 125 yards before it came to rest. The instructor located an approximate 1 foot long section of blade tip in the debris path.

The airplane has been retained for further examination.

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: Cessna
Registration: N96145
Model/Series: 172Q P
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Amateur Built:No 
Operator: On file
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None
Operator Does Business As: Aviation Adventures
Operator Designator Code:

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: Visual Conditions
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: , 4493 ft msl
Observation Time: 1955 MST
Distance from Accident Site:
Temperature/Dew Point: -7°C / -12°C
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear
Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: Calm / ,
Lowest Ceiling: None
Visibility:  10 Miles
Altimeter Setting: 29.72 inches Hg
Type of Flight Plan Filed: VFR
Departure Point: Billings, MT (BIL)
Destination: Big Timber, MT (6S0) 

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 2 None
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 2 None
Latitude, Longitude: 45.810000, -109.980000 (est)