Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Sandy, Oregon 97055
Sunday, August 27, 1989 16:30 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE ENGINE LOST POWER SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF AND A FORCED LANDING WAS MADE IN AN OPEN FIELD. THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH THE TERRAIN AND CARTWHEELED. THE BOLT CONNECTING THE THROTTLE ARM TO THE THROTTLE ROD END WAS MISSING. A BOLT IDENTIFIED AS THE PROPER TYPE FOR THIS CONNECTION WAS FOUND LAYING AGAINST THE FIREWALL. THE BOLT IS SUPPOSDE TO BE SECURED WITH A CASTELLATED NUT AND A COTTER PIN. NEITHER THE NUT NOR THE COTTER PIN WAS FOUND. THE BOLT WAS NOT DAMAGED.AN ANNUAL INSPECTION WAS PERFORMED 5 FLIGHT HOURS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. THE OPEN FIELD USED FOR THE FORCED LANDING IS SURROUNDED BY 100 FT TREES, WITH BARBED WIRE FENCES 300 TO 400 FT APART. INITIAL GROUND IMPACT MARK WAS LOCATED 64 INCHES FROM A FENCE.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO THE SEPARATION OF THE BOLT CONNECTING THE THROTTLE ROD TO THE CARBURETOR THROTTLE ARM AND AN INADEQUATE ANNUAL INSPECTION PERFORMED 5 FLIGHT HOURS PRIOR TO THE OCCURRENCE. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE OBSTRUCTIONS IN AND AROUND THE ONLY OPEN FIELD AVAILABLE FOR THE FORCED LANDING.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/27/1989
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1630
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City SANDY
Event State OREGON
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 97055
Event Date Year 1989
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 0
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1650 Pacific Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 286
Weather Observation Facility ID PDX
Elevation of weather observation facility 26
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 18
Time Zone of the weather observation PDT
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) 40
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 26
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 17
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 10
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal 1
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1771
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Aug 27 1989 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1700
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 40828
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 12:59PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N5916C
NTSB Number SEA89FA157
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 C35
Aircraft Series Identifier C35
Aircraft Serial Number D-3276
Certified Max Gross Weight 2700
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 Aug 3 1989 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 5
Airframe Hours 3725
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name HELM, JOHN C
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX R
Aircraft Owner City SCAPPOSSE
Aircraft Owner State OR
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 97056
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name WESLEY, GREENE S.
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 1891 NE BARBERRY DR
Operator City HILLSBORO
Operator State OR
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 97124
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 03S
Departure City SANDY
Departure State OR
Departure Country
Departure Time 1625
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code 7S3
Destination City HILLSBORO
Destination State OR
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Approach
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 0
Runway Width 0
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --