Fulton County Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Richfield Sprng, New York 13439
Monday, July 17, 2000 15:13 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

While in cruise flight about 3,700 feet mean-sea-level, the pilot heard a loud 'pop', and the engine lost all power. The pilot performed a forced landing to a field, struck a rock, and the airplane came to rest inverted. Examination of the engine revealed that the crankshaft had separated between the number two and number three connecting rods. Additionally, the main bearing from the number two cylinder had shifted rearward. Material transfer, between the bearing and the area of the crankshaft near the fracture, was consistent with the bearing rubbing against the crankshaft. Review of the maintenance records, from the facility the previously performed maintenance on the airplane, revealed that all six cylinders were replaced about 100 hours of operation prior to the accident. One of the through-bolts was found to be at a torque setting that was less than the specified torque setting. The investigation could not determine if the bolt was not at a proper torque setting before the accident, or if the impact had loosened the bolt. The owner of the maintenance facility stated that the bolts were set to the correct torque.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Failure of the number two cylinder main bearing for undetermined reasons.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/17/2000
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1513
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City RICHFIELD SPRNG
Event State NEW YORK
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 13439
Event Date Year 2000
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude --
Event Location Longitude --
Event Location Airport FULTON COUNTY AIRPORT
Event Location Nearest Airport ID NY0
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 881
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1455 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 320
Weather Observation Facility ID UCA
Elevation of weather observation facility 743
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 12
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 4900
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 3000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 20
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 26
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 19
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 310
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 6
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 2
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 421
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jul 17 2000 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1700
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Mar 4 2001 7:09AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N5256W
NTSB Number NYC00LA200
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model P210N
Aircraft Series Identifier P210N
Aircraft Serial Number P21000664
Certified Max Gross Weight 4000
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 6
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Oct 20 1999 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 150
Airframe Hours 3045
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name ROBERT R. SHIRER
Aircraft Owner Street Address 291 SHAAD ROAD
Aircraft Owner City SALISBURY CTR
Aircraft Owner State NY
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 13454
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
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 NY0
Departure City JOHNSTOWN
Departure State NY
Departure Country
Departure Time 1450
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code CMH
Destination City COLUMBUS
Destination State OH
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Mar 4 2001 7:09AM
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 --