Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Bend, Oregon 97708
Friday, August 18, 1995 15:35 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

While in cruise flight, the pilot noticed a loss of oil pressure which was followed by a total loss of engine power. He elected to ditch the airplane in a lake as no other suitable forced landing site was available. An examination of the engine revealed the that the #4 connecting rod had separated from the crankshaft at the end cap. The rod end cap bolts had separated from the cap, and exhibited evidence of necking and heat distress. The #4 rod journal also exhibited evidence of heat distress. The bearings associated with the #4 rod journal were destroyed. All other rod journals and all of the main bearing journals did not exhibit evidence of heat distress or lack of lubrication.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

seizure of the #4 connecting rod bearing due to overtemperature resulting in the separation of the connecting rod and total loss of engine power. A factor contributing to the accident was the lack of suitable terrain for a forced landing.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/18/1995
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1535
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City BEND
Event State OREGON
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 97708
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 Unknown
Investigator's weather source Witness
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 50
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 24
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 300
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1642
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Feb 21 1995 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 840
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 7 2000 4:32PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N9531Y
NTSB Number SEA95LA186
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 BEECH
Aircraft Model P-35
Aircraft Series Identifier P-35
Aircraft Serial Number D7020
Certified Max Gross Weight 3125
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 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jun 4 1994 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 20
Airframe Hours 4610
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name YOUNG, D.
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 746
Aircraft Owner City COOS BAY
Aircraft Owner State OR
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 97420
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) Business
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code OTH
Departure City NORTH BEND
Departure State OR
Departure Country
Departure Time 1445
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code 50OR
Destination City ALFALFA
Destination State OR
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 --