Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Norwalk, Iowa 50211
Thursday, March 14, 1985 11:09 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

APPROACHING DES MOINES AIRPORT THE PLT RPTD TO APPROACH CONTROL OF ENG PROBLEMS AND WANTED TO KNOW WHAT AIRPORT WAS CLOSE FOR AN PRECAUTIONARY LANDING. AN ATTEMPT WAS MADE TO LAND AT AN AIRSTRIP 3 MI EAST OF HIS PRESENT POSN. UNABLE TO LAND AT THE AIRSTRIP THE ACFT MADE A LANDING TO A FIELD WHERE IT SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. INSPECTION OF THE ENG REVEALED A BROKEN CRANKSHAFT IDLER GEAR. FATIGUE PROGRESSION WAS EVIDENT ON THE FRACTURE SURFACES EXAMINED. ALSO NOTED WAS AN ELLIPTICAL DEFORMATION OF THE THREADED PORTION OF THE RETAINING BOLT BELOW THE BOLT HEAD. THIS DEFORMATION WAS OF THE SAME THICKNESS AS THE BOLTFLANGE AND LOCKNUT PLATE. VISUAL INSPECTION OF THE FRACTURE SURFACES GAVE NO EVIDENCE OF UNUSUAL CONTACT OR WEAR PATTERN PRIOR TO FAILURE.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/14/1985
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1109
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City NORWALK
Event State IOWA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 50211
Event Date Year 1985
Event Date Month 3
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 Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1051 Central Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 10
Weather Observation Facility ID DSM
Elevation of weather observation facility 957
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 6
Time Zone of the weather observation CST
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) 30
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 7
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -1
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 320
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 17
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 22
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
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 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 2011
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Mar 14 1985 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1200
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 29405
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 9:15AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N67399
NTSB Number MKC85LA071
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 CESSNA
Aircraft Model 152
Aircraft Series Identifier 152
Aircraft Serial Number 15281815
Certified Max Gross Weight 1650
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 --
Airframe hours since last inspection 21
Airframe Hours 2773
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name PROFLIGHT, INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 5935 SO. 132ND ST
Aircraft Owner City OMAHA
Aircraft Owner State NE
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 68137
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 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 --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Instructional
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code MLE
Departure City OMAHA
Departure State NE
Departure Country
Departure Time 1000
Departure Time Zone CST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code DSM
Destination City DES MOINES
Destination State IA
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:36AM
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 --