NTSB Factual Report

On January 28, 2003, about 0917 eastern standard time, a Cessna 172F, N5602R, operated by Flying Weaners Inc. as a Title 14 CFR Part 91 other work use flight lost total engine power, and nosed over during a forced landing near Jacksonville, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. No flight plan was filed. The airplane was substantially damaged. The commercial rated-pilot and one passenger reported no injuries. The flight had originated from Craig Municipal Airport (CRG), Jacksonville, Florida, at 0725.

According to the pilot the flight was in the processes of performing a morning traffic report and maneuvering to cover a traffic accident when the pilot noticed the engine RPM drop. According to his statement, as he headed west, northwest bound he "noticed a 50 RPM drop." Before the drop he was cruising at "2200 RPM." He looked at the engine gages, they were still in the "green," and the other instrument gauges were "looking fine." He radioed the Traffic Center and told them that he had a "engine problem," and that he was heading back to the airport. He turned around heading east; northeast bound, contacted CRG Tower, and declared an emergency. He said that the RPM kept dropping another 1OO RPM, than another 2OO RPM, and kept dropping until 1500 RPM, then "smoke came out of the cowling and the engine seized." He attempted a forced landing near a residential area in a short grass field, about 4 miles west of the airport. On approach, and at about 200 feet above the ground, he "...started pitching up slowly to a full stall, without adding any flaps, had the [airplane] sank down and when the [airplane] touched its main gear, [he] applied full left rudder, turned the [airplane] about 180 degrees," and nosed over.

The FAA inspector that had gone to the crash site stated, he found the engine had seized, the oil seal had unseated at the mating surface between the Champion oil filter and the housing. The engine oil sump was empty, and the number 1 piston rod was missing, as well as the top portion of the engine case between number 1 and 2 cylinders.

At the request of the NTSB investigator-in-charge, the FAA, Flight Standards District Office (FSDO) inspector had the Champion Oil Filter, CH48109, from N5602R, sent to the FAA, Manufacturing Inspection District Offices (MIDO), Atlanta, Georgia, to supervise a teardown and examination of the oil filter. The subject oil filter was torn down on May 5,2003, under the supervision of the FAA/MIDO, at Purolator's facilities in Fayetteville, North Carolina.

According to the report, physical inspection of the filter reveled that the gasket had blown out of its retaining groove. The gasket blowout indicated that the point at which oil pressure forced the gasket out was between the filter's retainer groove, and the engine's mounting base. A burst test using two sample CH48109 oil filters from the same production date was conducted. The burst test showed that when oil pressure was progressively applied to the sample filters they were observed to elongate at the dome, and roller seam areas, as the pressure reached 500 psi. The seam eventually separated on the first filter and "burst" at 640.5 psi. The second filter burst at 604.7 psi. The subject filter was then cut open for verification of the inner core for damage. No deposits or particles were found, and no discrepancies were noted. According to the FAA/MIDO's report, based on the examination and burst tests, it was determined that the filter from N5602R, failed due to "over-pressurization."

NTSB Probable Cause

a total loss of engine power due to the failure the oil filter because of over-pressurization, resulting in damage to the airplane during the subsequent forced landing.