Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Mill Hall, Pennsylvania 17751
Saturday, June 22, 2002 12:00 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

Shortly after take-off, the pilot reported that the engine began to run rough, backfire, and vibrate severely, along with an increase in oil temperature. Examination of the engine revealed that the crankshaft was fractured through the #3 main bearing journal. Fluorescent magnetic particle inspection of the crankshaft revealed over 50 axial cracks in the #3 main bearing journal. Examination of the three of the cracks revealed that each exhibited rehardening, rehardening and slight tempering, and tempering, consistent with a lack of lubrication. The engine was last overhauled in 1993, at which time, the crankshaft was replaced. The pilot reported that he bought the engine in 1993 from the individual who performed the overhaul. He said there were no maintenance logbooks for the engine, and the service history of the crankshaft was unknown.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The failure of the crankshaft due to a lack of lubrication.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/22/2002
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1200
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City MILL HALL
Event State PENNSYLVANIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 17751
Event Date Year 2002
Event Date Month 6
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 410814N
Event Location Longitude 0772508W
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 --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1154 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 75
Weather Observation Facility ID IPT
Elevation of weather observation facility 529
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 23
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 6
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 28
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 17
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 260
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 7
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.2
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 13807
NTSB Notification Source EROC
NTSB Notification Date Jun 22 2002 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2137
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Aug 26 2003 8:17AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\JOHB
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office HARRISBURG FAA/FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N676EC
NTSB Number IAD02LA062
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name CASTLE
Aircraft Model GLASAIR II-SRG
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 2163
Certified Max Gross Weight 2200
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? Yes
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 Feb 16 2002 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 15.2
Airframe Hours 318
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name JOSEPH E. CASTLE
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City MARIETTA
Aircraft Owner State OH
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 45750
Operator is an individual? No
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? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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 LHV
Departure City LOCK HAVEN
Departure State PA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1145
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code PKB
Destination City PARKERSBURG
Destination State WV
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Climb - to cruise
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Jan 28 2003 12:16AM
User who most recently changed record COXP
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location --
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --