FLORENCE, SC, USA
N7320E
CESSNA 210
WHILE CRUISING AT 5000 FEET MSL, THE PILOT EXPERIENCED A COMPLETE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. THE PILOT ESTABLISHED AN EMERGENCY DESCENT FOR A FORCED LANDING IN A NEARBY FIELD. UPON TOUCHDOWN, THE NOSE WHEEL DUG INTO THE PLOWED FIELD AND THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER. THE ENGINE EXAMINATION DISCLOSED THAT THE NO. 3 AND NO. 4 CONNECTING RODS WERE BROKEN AND THERE WAS A HOLE IN THE ENGINE CRANKCASE ADJACENT TO THE #4 CYLINDER. THE ENGINE TEARDOWN REVEALED THAT 2 COUNTERWEIGHT RETENTION RINGS HAD BEEN DISLODGED FROM THEIR NORMALLY INSTALLED POSITIONS. THE EXAMINATION ALSO REVEALED THAT THE RETENTION RINGS WERE INSTALLED WITH THE BEVELLED SIDE OF THE RING OUTBOARD AND THE FLAT SIDE INBOARD. ACCORDING TO THE ENGINE OVERHAUL MANUAL, THE FLAT SIDE OF THE RETENTION RINGS SHOULD BE INSTALLED OUTBOARD. THE REMAINING RETENTION RINGS WERE INSTALLED PROPERLY. HISTORICAL MAINTENANCE INFORMATION ON THE COUNTERWEIGHT WAS NOT RECOVERED.
THE IMPROPER INSTALLATION OF THE ENGINE COUNTERWEIGHT RETENTION RINGS WHICH RESULTED IN THE SEPARATION OF THE RETENTION PIN, ALLOWING THE LEADING EDGE OF THE COUNTERWEIGHT TO STRIKE THE CRANKCASE. FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT WERE THE SUBSEQENT LOSS OF POWER AND THE SOFT FIELD.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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