Cessna A188B incident near Rockford, Ohio, July 12, 2018
On July 12, 2018 at about 8:47 pm local time, a 1979 Cessna A188B, registered N2483J, suffered minor damage in an incident during maneuvering (low-alt flying) near Rockford, Ohio. It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The total loss of engine power, which resulted from the separation of the No. 2 connecting rod due to oil starvation as a result of insufficient clamping force of the engine's through-bolts.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 12, 2018 · about 8:47 pm local time · cases in 2018
- Place
- Rockford, Ohio · map
- Type
- Incident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna A188B, built 1979 · all A188Bs on the register
- Registration
- N2483J · registry record · serial 18803467T
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The commercial pilot of the aerial application flight reported that the airplane was at 350 ft above ground level when the engine started running roughly and then lost total power. He executed a forced landing to a field, which resulted in minor damage to the right wing. A review of the engine maintenance logbooks indicated that the accident occurred 107.6 hours after all six cylinders were replaced. The engine teardown examination revealed a large hole in the crankcase near the No. 2 cylinder. The crankcase bearing supports exhibited signs consistent with bearing shift. The No. 2 and No. 3 lock tabs exhibited elongation, and all bearing support mating surfaces exhibited varying amounts of fretting, with the No. 2 and No. 3 surfaces displaying the most fretting. The No. 3 bearing had shifted a significant amount, and part of the bearing was separated. The No. 2 connecting rod bearings exhibited a significant amount of thermal damage consistent with heat distress. The No. 2 connecting rod was separated from its journal and exhibited damage consistent with lubrication distress. The No. 2 piston was separated from the connecting rod and remained in the cylinder. It is likely that, when all six cylinders were replaced, the engine's through-bolts did not have sufficient clamping force, which resulted in movement of the crankcase halves as evidenced by the fretting on the crankcase bearing supports. This led to the crankcase main bearings shifting, which resulted in oil starvation to the No. 2 connecting rod journal, failure of the No. 2 connecting rod, and the subsequent total loss of engine power.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Miscellaneous/other during maneuvering (low-alt flying)
- Loss of engine power (total) during maneuvering (low-alt flying) defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (flare/touchdown)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (reciprocating) › Recip engine power section › Incorrect service/maintenance other cases naming the engine
- cause Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Oil › Fluid level other cases naming the engine
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (reciprocating) › Recip engine power section › Damaged/degraded other cases naming the engine
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 7,200 hours in all; 2,500 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: ctr
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,641 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 2, 2018
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-550-D (piston); 4,060 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CQA Celina OH at 8:20 pm
- Destination: CQA Celina OH
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 140° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 30.19 inHg
- Observation at 7:54 pm from FWA, 30 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 11 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photo 1 – View of airplane in the bean field (FAA Photo)
Photo 2 – View of minor damage to the right wing (FAA Photo)
Photo 3 – View of the hole in the crankcase (CM Photo)
Photo 4 – View of damage to the No. 2 piston connecting rod (CM Photo)
Photo 5 – View of No. 2 main bearing (CM Photo)
Photo 6 – View of No. 2 main bearing (CM Photo)
Photo 7 – View of No. 3 main bearing (CM Photo)
Photo 8 – View of No. 3 main bearing (CM Photo)
Photo 9 – View of No. 2 and No. 3 main bearings (CM Photo)
Photo 10 – View of one of the missing induction riser bolts (CM Photo)
Photo 11 – View of the crankshaft gear and the safety wire (CM Photo)The NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on September 9, 2019. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Engine Teardown Summary | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 2 | Photo Log | PDF, 11 pages · our copy | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N2483J on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Cessna A188 251 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Cessna 72,677 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Continental IO-550-D 36 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Lakefield Airport · departed from
- Accidents and incidents in Ohio 1,884 since 1982 · 253 in the last ten years
- Ohio 8,531 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/CEN18IA273.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.