Aviation Accident Summaries

Aviation Accident Summary IAD99LA021

AKRON, OH, USA

Aircraft #1

N3396Y

Cessna 182E

Analysis

After takeoff, about 300 feet above the ground, the airplane's windscreen was immediately covered with oil, restricting the pilot's forward visibility. The pilot aborted the take off and 'slipped the airplane back' onto the remaining 100 feet of the runway. He applied power to get over railway tracks at the end of the runway, the airplane went up an embankment, and slid to a stop on a grassy field. Examination of the wreckage revealed that the oil filler cap was tightly secured and the oil dip stick was still in position. The top cowling to the engine was removed, and no loose hoses were found. Utilizing the oil streaking left on the cowling and the windscreen, oil was traced from the windscreen, down to the top of the cowling, towards the access door for the oil filler, and then to the oil filler cap. The pilot was uncertain when he last added oil to the engine.

Factual Information

On November 25, 1998, about 1130 eastern standard time, a Cessna 182E, N3396Y, was substantially damaged as it collided with the terrain during an aborted take off from the Akron Fulton International Airport, Akron, Ohio. The certificated private pilot/owner and passenger received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The pilot stated that he was repositioning the airplane to the Kent State University Airport, Kent, Ohio. After adding 10 gallons of aviation gasoline and completion of a preflight check, the pilot taxied to runway 25. Without any abnormal indications, the pilot took off. Once airborne, the pilot stated that he climbed to about 300 feet when the windscreen was immediately covered with oil, restricting his forward visibility. The pilot aborted the take off and "slipped the airplane back" onto the remaining 100 feet of the 6,338 foot long runway. The pilot applied power to cross railway tracks at the end of the runway, and the airplane went up a 4 foot high embankment, collapsing the nose gear and shearing the right main landing gear. The airplane slid to a stop on a grassy field. The pilot stated that he performed a preflight inspection and checked the oil before his departure from Clearwater, Florida on November 24, 1998. He was uncertain when he last added oil to the engine. A Federal Aviation Administration Inspector examined the wreckage. The examination revealed that the nose gear and the right main landing gear were sheared. The propeller blades were bent and the airplane was resting upright on its right wing. The fuel selector was set on both, and the fuel migrated to the right wing tank. The oil filler cap was found tightly secured and the oil dip stick was still in position. The Inspector stated that he removed the top cowling to the engine, and was unable to find any loose hoses. Utilizing the oil streaking left on the cowling and the windscreen, the Inspector traced oil from the windscreen, down to the top of the cowling, towards the access door for the oil filler, and then to the oil filler cap.

Probable Cause and Findings

The pilot's inadequate preflight which resulted in a takeoff with the fuel cap unsecured.

 

Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database

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