Accident Overview
On June 14, 2021, at approximately 1230 eastern daylight time, a Diamond DA20-C1 aircraft (registration N458MA) sustained substantial damage when it was ditched in the Chesapeake Bay near Matthews, Virginia. The flight instructor and student pilot on board received minor injuries. The airplane was being operated under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as an instructional flight.
Aircraft and Flight Details
The aircraft was on a short cross-country flight to Tangier Island. During the preflight inspection, the flight instructor added one quart of oil to the engine, bringing the total oil quantity to five quarts. While en route, air traffic control instructed the flight to descend from 5,500 ft mean sea level (msl) to 2,500 ft msl due to an active military operations area.
Engine Failure and Ditching
After the student pilot leveled the airplane at 2,500 ft msl, the flight instructor noticed engine vibration and roughness. He initially corrected this by advancing the throttle from 1,900 to 2,200 rpm. However, the engine subsequently shook violently, followed by a total loss of engine power. The flight instructor took control and determined that there was insufficient altitude to glide to shore. He then ditched the airplane in the Chesapeake Bay near a fishing trawler, from which he and the student pilot were rescued.
Wreckage Examination
The wreckage was recovered about two weeks after the accident and examined at a recovery facility. The right wing sustained substantial damage. Examination of the engine revealed that the oil sump drain plug was missing, and the No. 1 and No. 2 connecting rods were fractured in a manner consistent with oil starvation.
Maintenance History
Review of maintenance records indicated that the airplane’s most recent 100-hour inspection had been completed four days and 9.3 operating hours before the accident. The mechanic who performed the inspection stated that he remembered draining the old oil, reinstalling the drain plug with a new gasket, torquing it according to the maintenance manual, and securing it with safety wire. He reported no abnormalities or interruptions during the work.