On November 9, 1996, a Bellanca 17-30A (registration N86DR) was involved in an aviation accident near Brunswick, GA. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: A hole in the No. 5 piston skirt caused oil to be pushed overboard, resulting in oil starvation and complete loss of engine power. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A pilot experienced an engine failure after noticing a shudder and zero oil pressure, leading to a forced landing in a salt marsh. Teardown revealed a hole in the No. 5 piston skirt caused oil loss.
Incident Overview
Approximately 30 minutes into the flight, the pilot felt a momentary shudder from the engine. He checked the gauges and observed all instruments were in the green. A short time later, upon rechecking, he noticed the oil pressure had dropped to zero. The pilot advised air traffic control that he had lost engine power and intended to attempt a landing at an airport. However, he could not reach the airport and elected to land in a salt marsh north of the airport.
Engine Teardown Findings
A subsequent teardown of the engine revealed that the No. 5 piston had a hole in the piston skirt. This defect resulted in oil being pushed overboard, leading to oil starvation and a subsequent complete loss of engine power.
Probable cause
A hole in the No. 5 piston skirt caused oil to be pushed overboard, resulting in oil starvation and complete loss of engine power.
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