Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Sonora, California 95370
Sunday, June 2, 1996 11:40 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The flight was level at 17,500 feet msl when 40 minutes into the flight the engine began to run extremely rough. This lasted for about 10 to 15 seconds when the engine abruptly stopped. Postaccident examination of the engine revealed that the number 1 connecting rod failed causing a catastrophic failure of the engine. Subsequent examination of the engine revealed that the number 1 main bearing oil supply hole had been blocked from supplying oil to the number 1 connecting rod. Examination of the number 1 main bearing halves revealed that there were operational movements indicated on a bearing half. Evidence was found to indicate the half had fractured/disintegrated and blocked the oil supply hole. The number 1 connecting rod then failed from oil starvation.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

failure of the number 1 connecting rod due to oil starvation caused by inadequate bearing crush.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/2/1996
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1140
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City SONORA
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 95370
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 --
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1147
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID STK
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) 20
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 34
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 14
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
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 2
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1755
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jun 2 1996 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1220
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 N214MS
NTSB Number LAX96LA215
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Beech
Aircraft Model A36TC
Aircraft Series Identifier A36TC
Aircraft Serial Number EA-64
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 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection 100
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name MURPHY SAFETY SWITCH OF CALIF.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 39210 NO. 10 ST. EAST
Aircraft Owner City PALMDALE
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 93550
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 RNO
Departure City RENO
Departure State NV
Departure Country
Departure Time 1050
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code WJF
Destination City LANCASTER
Destination State CA
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 --