NTSB Factual Report

On April 11, 2014, about 1800 eastern daylight time (EDT), a Cessna U206G, N156SA, force landed following a total loss of engine power near Louisa, Virginia. The commercial pilot received serious injuries, one passenger received minor injuries, and the airplane was substantially damaged. The airplane was operated by Laser Mapping Specialists, Inc. under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Day, visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the aerial laser mapping flight, and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated at Louisa County Airport (LKU) about 1730.

The pilot reported the following. During a flight prior to the accident, the engine oil pressure slowly fluctuated up and down, but within the normal range. He elected to change the engine oil and noted "a great deal of chrome" inside the oil filter. He placed a magnet inside the metallic particles and found no ferrous material. Four cylinders were replaced in December, 2013, so he attributed the particles in the oil to "break-in." After consulting the pilot's operating handbook, he believed that the oil pressure fluctuations were due to a gauge problem or a clogged pressure relief valve. He elected to continue with his planned flight. After routine ground operations, the flight departed. About 30-40 minutes into the flight, the engine started making "a strange sound" and then "quit" about 20 seconds later. He force landed the airplane in an open field. The airplane landed hard and came to rest, resulting in structural damage to the airframe.

According to personnel at LKU, prior to the accident flight, the pilot requested supplies for an oil and filter change following a reported anomaly with the airplane's oil pressure gauge. The pilot performed the engine oil and filter change himself. The pilot opened the oil filter and "an excessive amount of metal" was observed inside the filter. The local airport personnel expressed their concerns about the metallic debris, and the pilot stated that he would contact his personal mechanic and obtain his opinion and advice. The pilot completed the oil change and prepared to depart the airport. After topping off the fuel tanks, the pilot and passenger departed on runway 27.

A review of the engine maintenance records revealed that, on December 20, 2013, the numbers 2, 3, 4, and 5 cylinders were removed and replaced with overhauled cylinders provided by the customer. The cylinders were replaced due to low compression.

Following the accident, the engine was removed and shipped to the manufacturer's facility for examination. Prior to disassembly, it was noted that, after rotation of the propeller flange, internal continuity was not established to the rear accessory pad. The crankshaft would only rotate through 90 degrees of travel.

Disassembly of the engine revealed that the breakaway torque values of the through bolts at the cylinder flanges were at various values; however, only the torque bolts associated with the number 6 cylinder were at or above the manufacturer's recommended torque value. The torque values in the loosen direction for the numbers 1-5 top through bolts ranged from 534 to 705 inch-pounds (790 to 810 inch-pounds recommended). The torque values in the loosen direction for the numbers 1-5 bottom through bolts ranged from 458 to 675 inch-pounds (790 to 810 inch-pounds recommended).

The engine oil pan and oil cooler were removed from the engine. The oil pan revealed metal particulates of various sizes and the oil cooler revealed metal particulates inside the unit. The engine exhibited substantial internal damage in the area of the number 2 main bearing. The crankshaft was observed fractured in the immediate vicinity of the number 2 main bearing. According to Continental Motors personnel, a crankshaft failure associated with a bearing shift will usually fail in fatigue and this crankshaft failure exhibited failure signatures consistent with fatigue. The adjacent areas around the number 2 main bearing exhibited scoring on the inside of the engine case, and the numbers 1 and 3 main bearings also exhibited evidence of bearing movement prior to the engine failure.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's decision to continue operation of the airplane with known mechanical issues (fluctuating oil pressure and metal in the oil filter), which was the result of undertorqued cylinder through bolts. Contributing to the accident was the mechanic's failure to properly torque the engine through bolts, which led to the eventual failure of the crankshaft.