Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Point Hope, Alaska 99766
Saturday, November 28, 1992 11:23 AST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE ENGINE FAILED ABOUT 5 TO 6 MINUTES AFTER TAKEOFF DURING THE CLIMB TO CRUISE PHASE OF OPERATION. THE PILOT MADE AN OFF AIRPORT FORCED LANDING ON AN ICE FLOW. AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT, THE PART 135 OPERATOR WAS REPOSITIONING THE AIRPLANE UNDER PART 91. THE CAUSE OF THE ENGINE FAILURE WAS TRACED TO A SPUN CRANKSHAFT BEARING WHICH BLOCKED OFF THE OIL HOLE TO THE NO. 2 CYLINDER CONNECTING ROD, RESULTING IN ITS CATASTROPHIC FAILURE. THE SPUN BEARING MOST LIKELY WAS THE RESULT OF EITHER A LOSS OF TORQUE OR INSUFFICIENT TORQUE BEING APPLIED TO THE CRANKCASE THRU STUD BOLTS.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE FAILURE OF THE NO. TWO CYLINDER CONNECTING ROD DUE TO A SLIPPED (SPUN) MAIN CRANKSHAFT BEARING WHICH BLOCKED OFF THE OIL HOLE TO THE CONNECTING ROD. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE UNSUITABLE TERRAIN ON WHICH TO PERFORM A FORCED LANDING.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 11/28/1992
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1123
Event Time Zone Atlantic Standard Time
Event City POINT HOPE
Event State ALASKA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 99766
Event Date Year 1992
Event Date Month 11
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 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
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 2600
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) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) -13
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 45
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 15
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 18
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 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 916
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Nov 28 1992 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1130
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 50053
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 3:26PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N20752
NTSB Number ANC93LA016
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name CESSNA
Aircraft Model 185
Aircraft Series Identifier 185
Aircraft Serial Number 18503041
Certified Max Gross Weight 3350
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 Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Continuous Airworthiness
Date of Last Inspection Nov 6 1992 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 20
Airframe Hours 3179
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name
Aircraft Owner Street Address
Aircraft Owner City
Aircraft Owner State
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name CAPE SMYTHE AIR SERVICE
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address P.O. BOX 549
Operator City BARROW
Operator State AK
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 99723
Operator Code 6C
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 --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Positioning
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code PHO
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1116
Departure Time Zone AST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code OTZ
Destination City KOTZEBUE
Destination State AK
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Climb
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:35AM
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 --