Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Holy Cross, Alaska 99602
Friday, June 19, 1998 19:25 AKD

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot and three passengers, departed on an air taxi flight over remote terrain. While in cruise flight about 2,200 feet, the engine oil pressure began to drop, and the engine oil temperature began to rise. The pilot decided to divert to the nearest airport. The engine quit running, and the pilot selected an emergency landing area on a sand bar along a river that contained several willow trees. During the landing, the airplane received damage to the wings and fuselage. The engine had accrued 1,491 hours since an overhaul. During that time, seven engine cylinder changes were performed by company maintenance personnel. An examination of the engine revealed the crankshaft was broken along the aft, lower edge of the number two cheek journal, at the forward radius of the number two main bearing journal. The fracture line was straight and flat, through the full dimension of the number two cheek journal, and was oriented perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the crankshaft. The number two main bearing was broken and flattened. The number two main bearing saddle was flattened and distorted. The left and right engine case halves mating surface exhibited galling/fretting at the number two main journal bolt holes.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The improper installation/undertorquing of the engine crankcase bolts by company maintenance personnel, and a subsequent fracture of the engine crankshaft. A factor in the accident was unsuitable terrain for a forced landing.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/19/1998
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1925
Event Time Zone --
Event City HOLY CROSS
Event State ALASKA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 99602
Event Date Year 1998
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 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 3000
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) 50
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 16
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 10
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 180
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) 29
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 4
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 632
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jun 19 1998 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1957
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 11:31AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N1673U
NTSB Number ANC98LA078
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
Type of Flight Plan filed Company VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model 207
Aircraft Series Identifier 207
Aircraft Serial Number 20700273
Certified Max Gross Weight 3800
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 7
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection May 25 1998 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 51
Airframe Hours 11877
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name INLAND HOLDINGS INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 244
Aircraft Owner City ANIAK
Aircraft Owner State AK
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 99557
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name INLAND AVIATION SERVICES INC.
Operator Same as Owner? No
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 B7TC
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
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 Non-scheduled
Indicates Domestic or International Flight Domestic
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail Passenger Only
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Unknown
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code KGX
Departure City GRAYLING
Departure State AK
Departure Country
Departure Time 1840
Departure Time Zone ADT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code BET
Destination City BETHEL
Destination State AK
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 --