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Forced Landing in Soft Field After Engine Seizure (N100DF)

East Newport, ME, US

On February 20, 1994, a Cessna 172 (registration N100DF) operated by Hurt, Robert was involved in an aviation accident near East Newport, ME. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The probable cause was the failure of the number 4 connecting rod, which was attributed to severe wear and the engine's lack of an overhaul after accumulating over 3,153 hours of operating time. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive; 1 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archivePrimary reportUpdated 2026-09-03Data APIEditorial standards

A cross-country flight diverted to Bangor due to oil issues. After refueling oil, the engine seized shortly after takeoff, forcing a landing in a soft field where the aircraft nosed over.

Incident Overview and Diversion Details The aircraft had departed from Pittsfield earlier in the day on a cross-country flight. After approximately 3.5 hours of flight time, the pilot diverted to Bangor due to high oil temperature and low oil pressure indications. Four quarts of oil were added to the engine, and no maintenance was performed. No oil leaks were visible at the time of the diversion. ## Engine Failure and Forced Landing Soon after takeoff from Bangor, the engine seized. A forced landing was made in a soft field, and the airplane nosed over. ## Post-Accident Examination Examination of the engine revealed that the number 4 connecting rod had fractured. No oil was found in the engine, and the engine components were severely worn. Examination of the logbooks revealed that the engine had accumulated over 3,153 hours of operating time and had never been overhauled.

Probable cause

The probable cause was the failure of the number 4 connecting rod, which was attributed to severe wear and the engine's lack of an overhaul after accumulating over 3,153 hours of operating time.
Engine failure

Related events

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Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 20 Feb 1994 Cessna 172 accident near East Newport, ME?

A cross-country flight diverted to Bangor due to oil issues. After refueling oil, the engine seized shortly after takeoff, forcing a landing in a soft field where the aircraft nosed over.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 20 Feb 1994 involved a Cessna 172, registration N100DF, operated by Hurt, Robert, at East Newport, ME.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The probable cause was the failure of the number 4 connecting rod, which was attributed to severe wear and the engine's lack of an overhaul after accumulating over 3,153 hours of operating time.

More accident analyses

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20001206X00710. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.