N36ZNCessna A185E · 1970

On October 22, 2022, at 1420 eastern daylight time, a Cessna A185E, N36ZN, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near York, Pennsylvania. The pilot was not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.

According to the pilot, he purchased the airplane a few days before the accident flight and was flying it back to Cottonwood Farm Airport (87VA), Crozet, Virginia. He took off from Auburn/Lewiston Municipal Airport (LEW), Auburn/Lewiston, Maine, and flew to Kingston-Ulster Airport (20N), Kingston, New York, for fuel. He stated that he topped off the fuel tanks and checked the oil before departing 20N. About 1 hour into the flight, the engine started running rough, and he noticed a drop in oil pressure. He then heard “clanking” in the engine, and it lost total power. He diverted to York Airport (THV), York, Pennsylvania, but landed short of the runway, in a field, and the airplane slid into the airport perimeter fence.

Postaccident examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that the airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The left main landing gear separated, and the right main landing gear was bent aft 90°.

Examination of the engine by an airframe and powerplant mechanic revealed that the engine oil indicated 2 quarts on the engine dipstick (the engine held 12 quarts of oil). There were small oil leaks around all cylinder push rod housings, with the leak around the No. 1 cylinder housing being the worst. All the spark plugs were dark, indicating oil burn. The No. 1 connecting rod was fractured off the crankshaft. The No. 1 crankshaft journal was black and discolored. No other anomalies were noted. The most recent annual inspection was completed on August 25, 2022.