NTSB Factual Report

On June 27, 2014, about 1700, central daylight time, a Cessna A188 airplane, N8157V, made a forced landing to a road after a loss of engine oil pressure near Arlington, Texas. The airline transport pilot, who was the sole occupant, was not injured. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The airplane was registered to and operated by a private individual under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a banner tow flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight and no flight plan was filed. The local flight originated from the Dallas Executive Airport (KRBD), Dallas, Texas about 1600.

According to the pilot, he was maneuvering the airplane with the banner attached when he noticed a loss of oil pressure. He notified air traffic control of the emergency and that he could not reach an airport. The engine experienced a total loss of power and the pilot made an emergency landing to a grass area near a highway interchange. During the landing roll, the airplane continued onto the highway interchange and struck a vehicle. After the airplane came to rest, another vehicle struck the airplane from the rear. The airplane's empennage was twisted to the right but remained attached to the rear fuselage.

A postaccident examination of the engine revealed insignificant impact exterior damage, although the engine mounts had excessive wear, and several cracks had been stop drilled in the muffler. The oil dip stick was removed and no oil was observed. The propeller was rotated by hand; the crankshaft was stiff and made a grinding sound as it rotated inside the crankcase. The oil filter adapter was loose from its fitting and had "CESSNA" branded on the side of the unit. The threads on the adapter were worn and damaged. The lock nut on the adapter was not properly torqued. Oil residue was observed on the engine near the adapter and on the underside of the airframe. The oil filter was removed and cut open. The filter element contained metallic debris throughout the entire filter.

On July 31, 1996, the Federal Aviation Administration issued Airworthiness Directive (AD) 96-12-22: CESSNA AIRCRAFT COMPANY: Amendment 39-9665, for Cessna Models 100, 200, 300, and 400 Series airplanes (all serial numbers), certificated in any category, that are equipped with at least one Teledyne Continental Motors engine. The AD required, in part, inspecting the oil filter and adapter assembly for oil leakage and proper installation of the adapter retaining nut and replacing any oil filter adapter assembly with security problems "to prevent loss of engine oil caused by loose or separated oil filter adapters, which could result in engine stoppage while in flight and loss of control of the airplane."

According to the airplane's maintenance logbooks, the oil and oil filter had been changed five times since October 6, 2013. The most recent oil and oil filter change was completed on June 23, 2014. There are no records that show AD 96-12-22 was completed. The maintenance personnel stated that the AD did not apply to the oil filter adapter because it was replaced by a different type of filter adapter from Continental Motors. According to the manufacturer, there are no Continental Motors oil filter adapters.

NTSB Probable Cause

The total loss of engine power due to a loose oil filter adapter, which resulted in oil starvation. Contributing to the accident was maintenance personnel’s failure to comply with a Federal Aviation Administration airworthiness directive.