Probable cause
Failure of the No. 2 cylinder’s rod bearing, which resulted in a total loss of engine power.
NTSB analysis
The airplane was climbing through about 3,000 feet mean sea level when it began to vibrate, and oil covered the windscreen. The pilot chose to perform and off-airport landing to an empty field. During landing, the airplane impacted the ground in a flat-pitch attitude, which resulted in the left wing buckling. A subsequent examination of the engine revealed that the No. 2 cylinder's aluminum-clad rod bearing had failed. The bearing likely failed due to progressive cracking and spalling or delamination within the bearing. The No. 3 cylinder's bearing exhibited similar cracking and delamination. It is likely that the failure of the No. 2 cylinder's rod bearing resulted in a total loss of engine power.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for ERA13LA112 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Jan 11, 2013
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Brandon, Florida
- Nearest airport
- Peter O Knight (TPF)
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Cessna T182
- N-number
- N9454H
- Category
- Airplane
- Damage
- Substantial
- Operating rule
- Part 91 (general aviation)
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
From the NTSB aviation accident database: N-registered aircraft, events since 2008, data through Oct 28, 2026. The file is published monthly, so the latest weeks are incomplete and recent records can change. The official source is the NTSB aviation investigation search. CheckAero is independent and not affiliated with the NTSB.