Georgetown Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Georgetown, Texas 78626
Friday, August 7, 1987 1:45 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

TEARDOWN OF THE AIRCRAFT ENGINE REVEALED THAT THE ENGINE COUNTERWEIGHT VIBRATION DAMPER ASSEMBLY WAS OUT OF TOLERANCE. THIS ALLOWED EXCESSIVE ENGINE VIBRATION WHICH RESULTED IN FAILURE OF THE CAMSHAFT DRIVE GEAR AND TOTAL ENGINE FAILURE. THE PILOT EXECUTED A FORCED LANDING INTO A WOODED AREA. ALTITUDE WOULD NOT ALLOW HIM TO REACH THE GEORGETOWN AIRPORT AND THE PILOT STATED THAT HE STALLED THE AIRCRAFT AND ALLOWED IT TO SETTLE INTO THE TREES TO MINIMIZE IMPACT SPEED. THE AIRCRAFT WAS EQUIPPED WITH ONE PASSENGER SEAT AND TWO PAESENGERS WERE ON BOARD THE AIRCRAFT AT IMPACT. THE PASSENGER JUMPSEAT NORMALLY IN THE REAR OF THE AIRCRAFT HAD BEEN REMOVED. THE SECOND PASSENGER WAS SITTING IN THE CARGO AREA BEHIND THE CREW COMPARTMENT.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/7/1987
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 145
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City GEORGETOWN
Event State TEXAS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 78626
Event Date Year 1987
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport GEORGETOWN
Event Location Nearest Airport ID TS01
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 784
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 50 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 185
Weather Observation Facility ID AUS
Elevation of weather observation facility 632
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 27
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Night/Dark
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) 12
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 27
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 23
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 190
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 7
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) 2371
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 3
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1748
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Aug 7 1987 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 830
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 35093
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 2:43PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N8873Q
NTSB Number FTW87FA190
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name CESSNA
Aircraft Model 206G
Aircraft Series Identifier 206G
Aircraft Serial Number U20603560
Certified Max Gross Weight 3600
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 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Jul 7 1987 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 75
Airframe Hours 5500
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Yes
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name AIR EXPRESS, INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 8721
Aircraft Owner City WACO
Aircraft Owner State TX
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 76714
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name AIR EXPRESS,INC.
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address WACO AIRPORT
Operator City WACO
Operator State TX
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 76703
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
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 Non-scheduled
Indicates Domestic or International Flight Domestic
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail Passenger/Cargo
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Unknown
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code AUS
Departure City AUSTIN
Departure State TX
Departure Country
Departure Time 130
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code ACT
Destination City WACO
Destination State TX
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
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 36
Runway Length 4100
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --