Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Edison, Washington 98232
Friday, April 2, 1999 14:25 PST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

Shortly after takeoff, and while cruising at 3,000 feet (mean sea level) over Samish Bay, the Cessna 205's Continental IO-470-S engine ceased developing power. With the propeller continuing to windmill, and only muddy fields available, the pilot initiated a forced landing to a north/south paved road at the south end of the bay. The pilot, observing power lines along the west side of the road, landed along the east side. During the landing roll the left wing impacted a sign. With the pilot being unable to maintain directional control of the aircraft following the sign impact, the aircraft departed the left side of the road into a deep ditch. Post-crash examination of the engine revealed that the crankshaft had separated at the number six cheek. Metallurgical examination of the crankshaft revealed that a large area in the central portion of number six cheek fracture surface displayed a smooth texture and contained multiple crack arrest features, characteristic of fatigue progression originating at the outboard flat surface of the crankcheek, approximately at the mid point between the horizontal centerlines for the main and rod journals. No further determination could be made regarding the initiating condition of the fatigue due to post-separation heat and mechanical damage to the fracture features.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

A total loss of engine power due to fatigue of the number six crankcheek resulting in crankshaft separation, and the lack of suitable terrain. Contributing factors were the sign and the ditch.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/2/1999
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1425
Event Time Zone Pacific Standard Time
Event City EDISON
Event State WASHINGTON
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 98232
Event Date Year 1999
Event Date Month 4
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1453 Pacific Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 330
Weather Observation Facility ID BLI
Elevation of weather observation facility 166
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 15
Time Zone of the weather observation PST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 7000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 9
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 2
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 270
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 7
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 204
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Apr 2 1999 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1503
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 12 2000 11:30AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N8464K
NTSB Number SEA99LA046
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model 205
Aircraft Series Identifier 205
Aircraft Serial Number 2050460
Certified Max Gross Weight 3300
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 6
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jun 10 1998 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 61
Airframe Hours 4398
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name ZOSEL, PAUL, J.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 2719 WILLOW LANE
Aircraft Owner City BELLINGHAM
Aircraft Owner State WA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 98226
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code BLI
Departure City BELLINGHAM
Departure State WA
Departure Country
Departure Time 1415
Departure Time Zone PST
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --