Individually Owned: 150,657
Corporate Owned: 137,281
Flying Cloud Municipal Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report
Minneapolis, Minnesota 55436
Thursday, June 8, 2000 15:45 CDT
NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident
During initial climb after takeoff the engine crankshaft failed, resulting in a engine failure. The flight instructor took control of the aircraft and executed a forced landing into a swamp. Post-accident investigation revealed that the engine crankshaft had failed between the number three bearing journal and the number three connecting rod journal. According to the National Transportation Safety Board Materials Laboratory Factual Report, the fracture surface, on the forward piece of the crankshaft, "...appeared relatively smooth with curving crack arrest lines, features typical of fatigue." The report stated, "Fracture features for the fatigue region emanated from an origin...at the surface of the aft radius of the third main journal...." The factual report indicated that the fatigue cracking progressed through more than 80-percent of the check prior to the final separation. The factual report further added that that the inner and outer diameter surfaces of the number three main bearing halves were circumferentially rubbed. The report states, "One edge of each of these bearing halves was rubbed and worn in the approximate shape of the journal radius. In addition, the antirotation tabs for these bearing halves were worn away from the outside diameter surface." The factual report indicated that the number four main bearing halves were deformed and the inner diameter surface was gouged. The report states, "Also, some slight circumferential rubbing marks were observed on the inner diameter surface of the number 1 and 2 main bearing halves. No evidence of heat tinting was noted on any of the bearing halves."
NTSB Probable Cause Narrative
the failure of the engine and the unsuitable terrain for landing encountered by the pilot-in-command. Factors to the accident were the fracture of the crankshaft due to fatigue, excessive main bearing wear, and the swampy terrain condition.
Event Information
| Type of Event | Accident |
| Event Date | 6/8/2000 |
| Event Day of the Week | Thursday |
| Time of Event | 1545 |
| Event Time Zone | Central Daylight Time |
| Event City | MINNEAPOLIS |
| Event State | MINNESOTA |
| Event Country | -- |
| Zipcode of the event site | 55436 |
| Event Date Year | 2000 |
| Event Date Month | 6 |
| MidAir Collision Indicator | No |
| On Ground Collision occurred ? | No |
| Event Location Latitude | -- |
| Event Location Longitude | -- |
| Event Location Airport | FLYING CLOUD MUNICIPAL |
| Event Location Nearest Airport ID | FCM |
| Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport | Off Airport/Airstrip |
| Distance from airport in statute miles | 1 |
| Degrees magnetic from airport | 180 |
| Airport Elevation | 906 |
| Weather Briefing Completeness | Unknown |
| Investigator's weather source | Weather Observation Facility |
| Time of the weather observation | 1550 Central Daylight Time |
| Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) | 180 |
| Weather Observation Facility ID | FCM |
| Elevation of weather observation facility | 906 |
| Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) | 1 |
| Time Zone of the weather observation | CDT |
| Lighting Conditions | Day |
| Lowest Ceiling Height | 0 |
| Lowest Non-Ceiling Height | 25000 |
| 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) | 91 |
| Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) | 70 |
| Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) | 160 |
| Variable Wind Indicator | Unknown |
| Wind Speed (knots) | 9 |
| Wind Velocity Indicator | Unknown |
| Wind Gust Indicator | Unknown |
| Wind Gust (knots) | 18 |
| Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) | 29 |
| Density Altitude (feet) | 3494 |
| 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 | 2 |
| Injury Total None | -- |
| Injury Total Serious | -- |
| Injury Total All | 2 |
| Investigating Agency | NTSB |
| NTSB Docket Number (internal use) | 10615 |
| NTSB Notification Source | FAA |
| NTSB Notification Date | Jun 8 2000 12:00AM |
| NTSB Notification Time | 2046 |
| Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information | IMAGE |
| Date of most recent change to record | Oct 2 2001 8:45AM |
| User who most recently changed record | NTSB\MONR |
| Basic weather conditions | Visual Meteorological Cond |
| FAA District Office | -- |
Aircraft Involved |
|
|---|---|
Aircraft #1 |
|
| Aircraft Registration Number | N8189T |
| NTSB Number | CHI00LA154 |
| 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 | Piper |
| Aircraft Model | PA-28-161 |
| Aircraft Series Identifier | PA-28-161 |
| Aircraft Serial Number | 288016309 |
| Certified Max Gross Weight | 2325 |
| 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 | 100 Hour |
| Date of Last Inspection | Jun 6 2000 12:00AM |
| Airframe hours since last inspection | 103 |
| Airframe Hours | 8478 |
| ELT Installed | Yes |
| ELT Activated | Yes |
| ELT Aided Location of Event Site | No |
| ELT Type | -- |
| Aircraft Owner Name | THUNDERBIRD AIRCRAFT COMPANY |
| Aircraft Owner Street Address | 5100 EDEN AVENUE |
| Aircraft Owner City | MINNEAPOLIS |
| Aircraft Owner State | MN |
| Aircraft Owner Country | |
| Aircraft Owner Zipcode | 55436 |
| Operator is an individual? | -- |
| Operator Name | |
| Operator Same as Owner? | Yes |
| 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 | TBDS |
| 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) | Instructional |
| Second Pilot on Board | Yes |
| Departure Point Same as Event | Yes |
| Departure Airport Code | FCM |
| Departure City | |
| Departure State | |
| Departure Country | |
| Departure Time | 1545 |
| Departure Time Zone | CDT |
| 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 | Takeoff |
| Report sent to ICAO? | -- |
| Evacuation occurred | -- |
| Date of most recent change to record | Sep 15 2001 4:00AM |
| User who most recently changed record | dbo |
| Since inspection or accident | -- |
| Event Location Runway Number and Location | 18 |
| Runway Length | 2691 |
| Runway Width | 75 |
| Sight Seeing flight | No |
| Air Medical Flight | No |
| Medical Flight | -- |