Incident Overview
A 7,378-hour Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) reported that they had just departed the airport and established a cruise-climb. At that time, a 752-hour private pilot was at the controls, with one passenger seated in the rear of the airplane. During the cruise-climb, the engine's revolutions per minute (rpm) increased to full, and the ATP observed the engine oil pressure indicate zero. While attempting to return to the departure airport, the engine seized. The private pilot then transferred control of the airplane to the ATP, who executed a forced landing in a field located 4 miles east of the departure airport.
Examination Findings
Subsequent examination of the engine by an NTSB investigator revealed that the oil filter had been improperly installed. The O-ring at the base of the filter was found broken. Additionally, the oil filter's adapter plate was discovered cracked. These conditions allowed the engine oil to be pumped overboard while the airplane was in flight, leading to the loss of oil pressure and eventual engine seizure.
Aftermath
The forced landing was conducted without further incident. The aircraft came to rest in a field, and no injuries were reported. The investigation focused on the maintenance-related issues that resulted in the oil loss.