Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Chimacum, Washington 98325
Sunday, August 13, 1995 20:20 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

During flight the pilot encountered an engine vibration, and shortly thereafter oil began appearing on the windscreen. While maneuvering toward suitable terrain the #2 cylinder departed the aircraft. A forced landing was made to a field. The aircraft impacted several fence posts, and the landing gear collapsed as it traversed rough/uneven terrain. Engine records documented a top overhaul of the engine approximately 172 hours before, during which the cylinders were removed and replaced. Metallurgical examination revealed that several cylinder hold-down nuts had backed off their bolts, or the bolts had separated in fatigue, allowing the cylinder to break free of the engine case. The mechanic reported using a silicone sealant between the cylinders and their respective engine case halves. Application of the uncalled-for sealant between the cylinders and case halves could result in a reduction or elimination of the preload torque applied to the through-bolts and hold-down studs.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the improper top overhaul of the engine and subsequent release of the cylinder hold-down nuts/breakage of hold-down and through-bolts. Factors contributing to the accident were the fence posts and rough/uneven terrain.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/13/1995
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 2020
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City CHIMACUM
Event State WASHINGTON
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 98325
Event Date Year 1995
Event Date Month 8
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 Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1955 Pacific Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 358
Weather Observation Facility ID NUW
Elevation of weather observation facility 47
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 26
Time Zone of the weather observation PDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 2000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 7
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 12
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 11
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 240
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 6
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
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 3
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 3
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1640
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Aug 13 1995 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2150
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 7 2000 4:31PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N8469N
NTSB Number SEA95LA183
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 Ground
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name BEECH
Aircraft Model V35A
Aircraft Series Identifier V35A
Aircraft Serial Number D-8802
Certified Max Gross Weight 3600
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 5
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Apr 21 1995 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 26
Airframe Hours 2292
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name BRAMHALL, CLARENCE
Aircraft Owner Street Address 3039 SPRING STREET
Aircraft Owner City PORT TOWNSEND
Aircraft Owner State WA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 98368
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 OLM
Departure City OLYMPIA
Departure State WA
Departure Country
Departure Time 1955
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code 0S9
Destination City PORT TOWNSEND
Destination State WA
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Cruise
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 --