Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Edwall, Washington 99008
Monday, August 18, 1997 13:00 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The private pilot stated that during climb, about 10 minutes after takeoff, he felt a strong vibration in the engine, followed by an abrupt engine stoppage a few seconds later. During the subsequent forced landing onto rolling terrain that was surrounded by obstructions, the airplane struck a fence post, hit a ditch, and flipped over. An examination of the engine revealed that the crankshaft had fractured. The fracture was the result of fatigue cracking that initiated at the surface of the aft radius of the no. 2 main bearing journal. Heavy rubbing damage in the aft radius indicated that the bearing shifted aft and scored the radius resulting in fatigue initiation at the surface. A visual inspection of the crankcase mating surfaces revealed fretting, indicating that there was relative motion between the two crankcase halves. No evidence of heat distress or lack of lubrication was found. The engine, a Continental TSIO-520, had received a 'top' overhaul about 45 operating hours before the accident.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

A fatigue failure of the engine crankshaft. Factors contributing to the accident were the rolling terrain, and the fence.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/18/1997
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1300
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City EDWALL
Event State WASHINGTON
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 99008
Event Date Year 1997
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 Pilot
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) 70
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 29
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 160
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 15
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 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1704
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Aug 18 1997 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1348
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2000 12:30PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N6620Z
NTSB Number SEA97LA193
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 TU206G
Aircraft Series Identifier TU206G
Aircraft Serial Number U20606347
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 6
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jul 6 1997 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 41
Airframe Hours 2138
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name ARRIOLA, D. M.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 838 SUNKIST DRIVE
Aircraft Owner City MOSES LAKE
Aircraft Owner State WA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 98837
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 Yes
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code SFF
Departure City SPOKANE
Departure State WA
Departure Country
Departure Time 1250
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code MWH
Destination City MOSES LAKE
Destination State WA
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Climb
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:30AM
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 --