Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Montague Island, Alaska 99574
Tuesady, October 15, 1991 16:55 AKD

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

DURING CRUISE FLIGHT, THE ENGINE SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. WITH NO SUITABLE LANDING AREA ON THE BEACH, THE PILOT DITCHED IN THE OCEAN AND SWAM ASHORE ABOUT 1/2 MILE AWAY. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE CRANKSHAFT HAD BROKEN AT THE FORWARD CHEEK OF THE #3 MAIN BEARING. A REDDISH SEALANT RESIDUE WAS FOUND AROUND THE MAIN BEARING THRU STUD HOLES OF THE CRANKCASE. ACCORDING TO LYCOMING SERVICE INSTRUCTION #1125A, SEALANT SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN APPLIED IN THIS AREA.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE POWER LOSS DUE TO THE CRANKSHAFT FAILURE. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS IMPROPER MAINTENANCE DURING THE LAST ENGINE OVERHAUL.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 10/15/1991
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1655
Event Time Zone --
Event City MONTAGUE ISLAND
Event State ALASKA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 99574
Event Date Year 1991
Event Date Month 10
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 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 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
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) 4
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 120
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 2
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 Minor
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 --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 2123
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Oct 15 1991 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2110
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information
Date of most recent change to record Dec 12 2000 10:47AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N3850Z
NTSB Number ANC92FA005
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 PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-18
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-18
Aircraft Serial Number 18-7608
Certified Max Gross Weight 1800
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 Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Feb 18 1991 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 63
Airframe Hours 1653
ELT Installed Unknown
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name MONNETT, CHARLES W.
Aircraft Owner Street Address P. O. BOX 3448
Aircraft Owner City HOMER
Aircraft Owner State AK
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 99603
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name MONNETT, CHARLES W.
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address P. O. BOX 3448
Operator City HOMER
Operator State AK
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 99603
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) Business
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code CDV
Departure City CORDOVA
Departure State AK
Departure Country
Departure Time 1315
Departure Time Zone ADT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code CDV
Destination City CORDOVA
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 10:35AM
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 --