Cessna 177B accident near Honolulu, Hawaii, January 21, 2009
On January 21, 2009 at about 1:49 am local time, a Cessna 177B, registered N30740, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (climb to cruise) near Honolulu, Hawaii (Honolulu International Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
An oil starvation induced catastrophic engine failure due to the fracture and separation of the propeller governor oil line, which was a result of inadequate inspection by maintenance personnel.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 21, 2009 · about 1:49 am local time
- Place
- Honolulu, Hawaii · Honolulu International Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 177B · all 177Bs on the register
- Registration
- N30740 · no longer on the register · serial 17701434
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Shortly after takeoff, the pilot noticed that oil began to spray onto the windshield, which limited his visibility to only what he could see out of the left and right side windows. The pilot informed air traffic control of the situation and made a 180-degree turn back towards the airport. While returning to the airport, the pilot felt a severe vibration from the engine and shortly thereafter, the engine lost power. Due to the oil on the windshield obstructing his vision, the pilot overshot the runway and landed in a grassy area on the airport. The nose landing gear separated and the airplane nosed down. Post-accident examination of the engine revealed a hole in the top of the engine case above the number 3 cylinder. The propeller governor oil line was found fractured at the "B" nut securing it to the front of the crankcase. Both of the line's securing clamps were found broken. Examination of the engine logbook revealed that the last 100-hour inspection was completed about 89 hours before the accident. Federal Aviation Regulations stipulate that during a 100-hour or annual inspection, all engine lines, hoses, and clamps are to be inspected for leaks, improper condition, and looseness. Two days prior to the accident, an oil leak was reported on the aircraft. A mechanic reported that he determined the source of the oil leak was probably the crankshaft seal. He changed the crankshaft seal and test ran the engine with no oil leaks noted. The accident flight was the first flight after this repair.
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
- Aircraft maintenance event during prior to flight
- Loss of engine power (total) during enroute (climb to cruise) defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during landing
- Nose over/nose down during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Inspection › Scheduled/routine inspection › Maintenance personnel
- cause Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Misc hardware › Hoses and tubes › Inadequate inspection
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (reciprocating) › (general) › Failure
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 320 hours in all
- Last flight review: June 24, 2007
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,580 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, November 13, 2008; 89 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A1F (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Moore Air
The flight
- Departed from: HNL Honolulu HI at 1:49 am
- Destination: PHJR Kapolei HI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 08L, 12,300 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 350° at 15 knots, gusting 22
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 3,500 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observation at 2:17 am from HNL
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
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 never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.