Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

San Jose, California 95122
Tuesady, August 13, 1991 18:15 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE ENGINE WAS OVERHAULED AND MODIFIED ABOUT SIX OPERATING HOURS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT WITH A NEW TYPE OF CAM SHAFT UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF A SUPPLEMENTAL TYPE CERTIFICATE. THE PILOT SAID HE WAS IN LEVEL CRUISE WHEN HE HEARD A LOUD BANG EMANATE FROM THE ENGINE CONCURRENTLY WITH IT STOPPING. AN INITIAL INSPECTION OF THE AIRCRAFT ON SITE BY FAA INSPECTORS REVEALED THAT OIL COVERED THE WIND SHIELD. THE NUMBER TWO CYLINDER ROD WAS OBSERVED TO BE PROTRUDING FROM A HOLE IN THE TOP OF THE ENGINE CASE. ONE COUNTER WEIGHT ASSEMBLY WAS FOUND MISSING FROM THE CRANKSHAFT COUNTERWEIGHT BLADE. THE MISSING COUNTERWEIGHT, COVER PLATES, RETAINING CIR-CLIPS, AND ASSOCIATED BUSHINGS WERE FOUND IN THE OIL PAN. OPTICAL EXAMINATION OF THE RECOVERED PIECES REVEALED THAT THE RETAINING CIR-CLIP FAILED, ALLOWING THE COUNTER WEIGHT PIN AND THE WEIGHT ITSELF TO SEPARATE FROM THE CRANKSHAFT. THE INSPECTOR DETERMINED THAT THE CIR-CLIP HAD BEEN INSTALLED BACKWARDS.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE FAILURE OF THE CRANKSHAFT COUNTERWEIGHT RETAINING CLIP DUE TO IMPROPER MAINTENANCE INSTALLATION OF THE PART.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/13/1991
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1815
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City SAN JOSE
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 95122
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 10000
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) 25
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 32
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 20
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 300
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 12
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
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 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1639
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 45299
Date of most recent change to record Dec 12 2000 10:39AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N3028C
NTSB Number LAX91LA358
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 BEECH
Aircraft Model J35
Aircraft Series Identifier J35
Aircraft Serial Number D-5693
Certified Max Gross Weight 2900
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 Feb 13 1991 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 26
Airframe Hours 3685
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name DTB AVIATION
Aircraft Owner Street Address 17436 PLEASANT VIEW AVENUE
Aircraft Owner City LOS GATOS
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 95030
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name DTB AVIATION
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 17436 PLEASANT VIEW AVENUE
Operator City LOS GATOS
Operator State CA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 95030
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
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1615
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code 307
Destination City HOLLISTER
Destination State CA
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 --