Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Westminster, Maryland 21157
Friday, June 7, 1996 11:30 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

According to the pilot, the preflight, taxi and runup were normal. After takeoff, he retracted the landing gear, climbed to 2000 feet mean sea level, and after he steadied on his outbound heading, the pilot stated he reduced RPM. His normal amount of control input for reduction in RPM brought about too large of a reduction in power and was associated with a rough engine at first, and then a loss of engine sounds. After lowering the nose of the airplane, he changed fuel tanks, checked individual magnetos and turned back towards the airport. It was at this time that the pilot believed he heard a knock and shortly thereafter, the propeller stopped windmilling. His attention was now focused on choosing a field in which to land. He altered his selection of a field based on some trees, and when he saw that he had his alternate field made, he selected the gear down. The pilot stated that the landing gear did not have enough time to extend and the airplane slide on a mowed hay field for approximately 300 feet.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The fracture of the engine crankshaft which had a subsurface origin and progressed in fatigue until overload and separation occurred.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/7/1996
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1130
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City WESTMINSTER
Event State MARYLAND
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 21157
Event Date Year 1996
Event Date Month 6
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 786
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Unknown
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 1900
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Unknown
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 5
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 26
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 21
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 200
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 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) 1960
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jun 7 1996 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1410
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2000 10:04AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N369JR
NTSB Number IAD96LA092
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 V35B
Aircraft Series Identifier V35B
Aircraft Serial Number D9232
Certified Max Gross Weight 3400
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 3 1996 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 5
Airframe Hours 2255
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name SHERMAN G. FRANCISCO
Aircraft Owner Street Address 15408 HANNANS WAY
Aircraft Owner City ROCKVILLE
Aircraft Owner State MD
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 20853
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 Yes
Departure Airport Code W54
Departure City
Departure State MD
Departure Country
Departure Time 1145
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code HGR
Destination City HAGERSTOWN
Destination State MD
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Climb
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 16
Runway Length 5100
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --