Bethel Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Bethel, Alaska 99559
Saturday, March 5, 1983 20:00 AST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE ACFT RIGHT ENGINE STARTED EMITTING SPARKS FROM THE COWLING DURING NORMAL CRUISE. THE PILOT NOTED A DROP IN MANIFOLD PRESSURE SO HE REDUCED POWER ON THAT ENGINE AND THE SPARKS STOPPED. THE ACFT WAS LANDED AT BETHEL. THE FIRE DEPT. USED A FIRE EXTINGUISHING AGENT ON THE ENGINE. THE DAMAGE WAS MINOR. INSPECTION OF THE RIGHT ENGINE REVEALED A BROKEN BOLT ONTHE EXHAUST CLAMP WHICH SECURED THE EXHAUST PIPE TO THE TURBOCHARGER. THE CLAMP WHICH SECURED THE PIPE TO THE ENGINE NACELLE HAD SLIPPED OFF THE BRACKET. THIS ALLOWED THE PIPE TO SLIP DOWN AND RELEASE HOT EXHAUST GASES INTO THE ENGINE NACELLE. THIS HEATED THE ENGINE EXCESSIVELY AND REMOVED THE WASTE GATE FROM THE OPERATIONAL SYSTEM OF THE ENGINE. THE BROKEN BOLT IS A PART OF THE CLAMP P/N MVT 68637-375M.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Incident
Event Date 3/5/1983
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 2000
Event Time Zone Atlantic Standard Time
Event City BETHEL
Event State ALASKA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 99559
Event Date Year 1983
Event Date Month 3
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport BETHEL
Event Location Nearest Airport ID BET
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 131
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 554
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID BET
Elevation of weather observation facility 131
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Night/Dark
Lowest Ceiling Height 1700
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 7
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) -2
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -3
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 70
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 9
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 Light
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 6
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 5055
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 21991
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 N7864F
NTSB Number ANC83IA053
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Minor
Aircraft Fire In-flight
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name CESSNA
Aircraft Model 401
Aircraft Series Identifier 401
Aircraft Serial Number 401-0207
Certified Max Gross Weight 6300
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 8
Number of Engines 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Mar 1 1982 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name B.J. MATTHEWS
Aircraft Owner Street Address 14527 EASTVIEW DRIVE
Aircraft Owner City LOS GATOS
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 95030
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name DOUG BENSING
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
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) Business
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code BET
Departure City BETHEL
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 0
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code FAI
Destination City FAIRBANKS
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Cruise
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 --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --