Accident Details
On July 4, 2019, at about 1145 central daylight time, a Cessna 140 airplane, registration N3725V, was substantially damaged during a nose-over while performing a precautionary landing near Reeves, Louisiana. The pilot, who was the sole occupant and operator of the airplane, was not injured. The flight was conducted under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight, and visual meteorological conditions prevailed. No flight plan was filed.
The flight originated from De Quincy Industrial Airpark (5R8), De Quincy, Louisiana, at about 1120, with St Landry Parish Airport-Ahart Field (OPL), Opelousas, Louisiana, as the planned destination. The pilot reported that he had landed at 5R8 to refuel and take a break, and also added engine oil at that time.
Approximately 15 minutes after departing 5R8, the pilot noticed that the engine oil pressure reading had dropped to about 0 pounds per square inch (psi) from 30 psi about a minute earlier. Using electronic flight charts, the pilot determined that the nearest airport was 7 minutes away. Due to the wooded terrain over which the airplane was flying, the pilot elected to make a precautionary landing to a nearby clearing.
During the precautionary landing, the airplane's right wing strut struck a fence post, causing the airplane to bounce several times before nosing over.
Aircraft Damage
The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing strut, vertical tail surfaces, and engine mount. After examining the aircraft following the accident, the pilot discovered that the oil dipstick was loose from its proper location.