MKC83FA084

Factual narrative

WHILE EN ROUTE AT 5500 FT MSL, THE PLT NOTICED AN OIL FILM START TO COVER THE WINDSHIELD OF THE HOME BUILT ACFT. AT THAT TIME, HE WAS APPROACHING HIAWATH, KS, SO HE DIVERTED TO THE HIAWATHA ARPT. BY THE TIME HE ENTERED THE TRAFFIC PATTERN TO LAND, THE OIL RESTRICTED HIS FORWARD VISIBILITY. ON FINAL APPROACH, THE PLT S-TURNED TO KEEP HIMSELF ORIENTED WITH THE RWY. AFTER TOUCHDOWN, THE ACFT VEERED OFF THE RWY & THE GEAR COLLAPSED. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE CRANKSHAFT PLUG, LYCOMING PN STD-1211, WAS LOOSE & DISTORTED, THUS ALLOWING OIL TO EXIT THE ENG AT THE PROPELLER. THE PLT STATED THAT AN OIL LEAK HAD PREVIOUSLLY DEVELOPED. HE SAID A MECHANIC USED A HAMMER TO RESEAT THE PLUG. AN EXAM OF THE PLUG REVEALED AN OFF-CENTERED INDENTATION ON THE PLUG'S FACE & DRIED SILICONE ADHESIVE AROUND ITS OUTER CIRCUMFERENCE. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12