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Casualties unknown

2003-12-20: Cessna 152 (N93002) — David Leahy — Louisburg, NC

Louisburg, NC, US

On December 20, 2003, a Cessna 152 (registration N93002) operated by David Leahy was involved in an aviation accident near Louisburg, NC. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The engine experienced wear and fretting on main journals, bearing movement, and a spun center journal that cut off the oil passage, leading to oil starvation and engine failure. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive; 8 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archivePrimary reportUpdated 1781061362Data APIEditorial standards

During a cross-country flight, an engine lost power six miles from the destination. The CFI attempted a forced landing, but the nose wheel struck a ditch, collapsing the gear. Post-accident examination revealed engine oil starvation due to a spun bearing.

Incident Overview

A flight instructor (CFI) and a student pilot were conducting a cross-country flight. While six miles from the destination airport at an altitude of 2,500 feet, the engine began running roughly for 20 to 30 seconds before quitting entirely. The CFI performed the emergency checklist but was unable to restart the engine.

Emergency Landing

The CFI selected a nearby field for an emergency landing. During the landing roll, the nose wheel collided with a ditch and collapsed. The airplane sustained structural damage: the nose gear collapsed, the propeller was bent, and the firewall was damaged.

Engine Examination

A teardown of the engine revealed wear and fretting on the main journals, along with bearing movement that resulted in engine oil starvation to the crankshaft. The center journal was found to be loose and appeared to have spun, cutting off the oil passage. The last engine overhaul was performed on January 22, 2001, and approximately 1,102.7 hours had been flown since that overhaul.

Probable cause

The engine experienced wear and fretting on main journals, bearing movement, and a spun center journal that cut off the oil passage, leading to oil starvation and engine failure.
Engine failure

Related events

Same aircraft family

More accident analyses

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20040106X00020. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.