Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Wood River, Alaska 99705
Thursday, August 1, 1991 20:30 AKD

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND STATED THT DURING CRUISE FLIGHT THE PROPELLER STOPPED TURNING WITHIN SIX REVOLUTIONS WITHOUT WARNING. HE WAS FORCED TO LAND ON A SAND BAR ON THE WOOD RIVER. DURING THE LANDING THE NOSE GEAR AND RIGHT MAIN GEAR COLLAPSED. EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED THAT THE CONNECTING ROD CAP FROM THE NUMBER 4 CONNECTING ROD HAD FAILED APPROXIMATELY 1/2 INCH FROM THE MATING SURFACE, ABEAM THE HEAD OF THE CONNECTING ROD BOLT.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE FAILURE OF THE NUMBER 4 CYLINDER CONNECTING ROD COP DUE TO FATIGUE. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE ROUGH SURFACE OF THE FORCED LANDING AREA.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/1/1991
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 2030
Event Time Zone --
Event City WOOD RIVER
Event State ALASKA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 99705
Event Date Year 1991
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 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
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 5000
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) 60
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 16
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
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 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 3
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1852
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 45730
Date of most recent change to record Dec 12 2000 10:37AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N6848V
NTSB Number ANC91LA113
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 MOONEY
Aircraft Model M-20F
Aircraft Series Identifier M-20F
Aircraft Serial Number 221
Certified Max Gross Weight 2740
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 Nov 19 1990 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 2
Airframe Hours 1461
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Yes
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name GRIFFIN, HERBERT L., SR.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 3020 SUPERCUB LANE
Aircraft Owner City NORTH POLE
Aircraft Owner State AK
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 99705
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name GRIFFIN, HERBERT L., SR.
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 3020 SUPERCUB LANE
Operator City NORTH POLE
Operator State AK
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 99705
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 FAI
Departure City FAIRBANKS
Departure State AK
Departure Country
Departure Time 1950
Departure Time Zone ADT
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 Cruise
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 --