Individually Owned: 150,657
Corporate Owned: 137,281
Maxwell Air Force Base Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report
Montgomery, Alabama 36112
Thursday, May 14, 1998 16:57 CDT
NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident
At 1654, Caveat 7 was cleared for takeoff from runway 15 at Maxwell AFB. At 1657, the pilot reported he had oil on his windshield. The tower controller watched as the airplane entered a steep left turn. The airplane collided with the ground about 250 feet northeast of a Burger King Restaurant, and burst into flames. The passenger stated after takeoff, at 500 feet, the passenger and pilot both noticed oil on the windscreen. After the pilot turned downwind for the forced landing, the engine began to sputter. At this point, the windscreen was completely covered with oil. The passenger stated the airplane then nosed down, banked 45 degrees to the left, and they returned to level flight before impacting the parking lot. According to Aero Club maintenance personnel, the engine was scheduled for removal the following day. The engines' total time was at TBO (time between overhaul). After the accident, It was noted, during the engine examination, that the crankshaft rubber seal assembly (nose seal) was approximately one inch forward of its normally installed position. It was also noted the nose seal was not the correct part as described in the engine parts manual.
NTSB Probable Cause Narrative
The installation of an incorrect engine nose seal that subsequently dislodged from the normally installed position, and resulted in the loss of engine power. A factor was the loss of engine oil.
Event Information
| Type of Event | Accident |
| Event Date | 5/14/1998 |
| Event Day of the Week | Thursday |
| Time of Event | 1657 |
| Event Time Zone | Central Daylight Time |
| Event City | MONTGOMERY |
| Event State | ALABAMA |
| Event Country | -- |
| Zipcode of the event site | 36112 |
| Event Date Year | 1998 |
| Event Date Month | 5 |
| MidAir Collision Indicator | No |
| On Ground Collision occurred ? | No |
| Event Location Latitude | |
| Event Location Longitude | |
| Event Location Airport | MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE |
| Event Location Nearest Airport ID | MXF |
| Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport | On Airport |
| Distance from airport in statute miles | 1 |
| Degrees magnetic from airport | 270 |
| Airport Elevation | 168 |
| Weather Briefing Completeness | Full |
| Investigator's weather source | Weather Observation Facility |
| Time of the weather observation | 1717 Central Daylight Time |
| Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) | 270 |
| Weather Observation Facility ID | MXF |
| Elevation of weather observation facility | 168 |
| Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) | 1 |
| Time Zone of the weather observation | CDT |
| Lighting Conditions | Day |
| Lowest Ceiling Height | 0 |
| Lowest Non-Ceiling Height | 9000 |
| 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) | 35 |
| Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) | 14 |
| Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) | 210 |
| Variable Wind Indicator | Unknown |
| Wind Speed (knots) | 10 |
| Wind Velocity Indicator | Unknown |
| Wind Gust Indicator | Not Gusting |
| Wind Gust (knots) | 0 |
| Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) | 30 |
| Density Altitude (feet) | 2600 |
| Intensity of Precipitation | Unknown |
| METAR weather report | -- |
| Event Highest Injury | Serious |
| On Ground, Fatal Injuries | 0 |
| On Ground, Minor Injuries | 0 |
| On Ground, Serious Injuries | 0 |
| Injury Total Fatal | -- |
| Injury Total Minor | 1 |
| Injury Total None | -- |
| Injury Total Serious | 1 |
| Injury Total All | 2 |
| Investigating Agency | NTSB |
| NTSB Docket Number (internal use) | 10167 |
| NTSB Notification Source | -- |
| NTSB Notification Date | May 15 1998 12:00AM |
| NTSB Notification Time | 600 |
| Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information | IMAGE |
| Date of most recent change to record | Jul 30 2001 11:11AM |
| User who most recently changed record | MONR |
| Basic weather conditions | Visual Meteorological Cond |
| FAA District Office | -- |
Aircraft Involved |
|
|---|---|
Aircraft #1 |
|
| Aircraft Registration Number | N9280Z |
| NTSB Number | ATL98FA076 |
| Missing Aircraft Indicator | N |
| Federal Aviation Reg. Part | Part 91: General Aviation |
| Type of Flight Plan filed | VFR |
| Flight plan Was Activated? | -- |
| Damage | Destroyed |
| Aircraft Fire | Ground |
| Aircraft Explosion | None |
| Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name | Beech |
| Aircraft Model | BE-45-T-34B |
| Aircraft Series Identifier | BE-45-T-34 |
| Aircraft Serial Number | BG-349 |
| Certified Max Gross Weight | 2950 |
| 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 | 2 |
| Number of Engines | 1 |
| Fixed gear or retractable gear | Retractable |
| Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection | 100 Hour |
| Date of Last Inspection | Feb 13 1998 12:00AM |
| Airframe hours since last inspection | 90 |
| Airframe Hours | 12722 |
| ELT Installed | Yes |
| ELT Activated | Yes |
| ELT Aided Location of Event Site | No |
| ELT Type | -- |
| Aircraft Owner Name | GEORGE ROBERT PARTRIDGE |
| Aircraft Owner Street Address | |
| Aircraft Owner City | |
| Aircraft Owner State | |
| Aircraft Owner Country | |
| Aircraft Owner Zipcode | 36111 |
| 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 | MXF |
| Departure City | |
| Departure State | |
| Departure Country | |
| Departure Time | 1654 |
| Departure Time Zone | CDT |
| Destination Same as Local Flt | dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere |
| Destination Airport Code | |
| Destination City | |
| Destination State | |
| Destination Country | |
| Specific Phase of Flight | Takeoff |
| 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 | 15 |
| Runway Length | 8000 |
| Runway Width | 200 |
| Sight Seeing flight | No |
| Air Medical Flight | No |
| Medical Flight | -- |