Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Gainesboro, Tennessee 38562
Saturday, August 10, 2002 11:08 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

At an altitude of 3,500 feet, the airplane's engine began vibrating. The pilot said he was unable to maintain altitude and at about 1,800 feet the engine stopped operating. On approach to an open field the landing gear impacted a barbwire fence, collapsed, and the right wing hit a post, causing the airplane to veer to the right before coming to rest. Examination of the wreckage revealed that the number 3 cylinder was pushed away from the case. The cylinder studs were stripped as though the nuts had been force off without rotating. An engine teardown revealed that a main bearing on the crankshaft journal had spun; causing a reduction in forced oil lubrication, and seized the connecting rod, which forced the cylinder away for the case. The cause of the spun main bearing, which forced the cylinder displacement, was not determined.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

a total loss of engine power due to the failure of the main bearing, a loss of oil pressure and the seizure of a connecting rod, resulting in damage to the airplane during the subsequent forced landing.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/10/2002
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1108
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City Gainesboro
Event State TENNESSEE
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 38562
Event Date Year 2002
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 362350N
Event Location Longitude 0853829W
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 Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1000 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 51
Weather Observation Facility ID SME
Elevation of weather observation facility 927
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 52
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
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) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 28
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 19
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 230
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 6
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.07
Density Altitude (feet) 2549
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 2
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 13702
NTSB Notification Source FAA Comm. Center
NTSB Notification Date Aug 10 2002 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1459
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Jul 23 2003 8:35AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Nashville FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N39835
NTSB Number MIA02LA147
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 Bellanca
Aircraft Model 17-31A
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 73-32-96
Certified Max Gross Weight 3325
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 Feb 1 2002 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 79
Airframe Hours 2029
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Robert C. Perry
Aircraft Owner Street Address 1445 Highway 96
Aircraft Owner City Burns
Aircraft Owner State TN
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 37029
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 1A7
Departure City Gainesboro
Departure State TN
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1040
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code SME
Destination City Somerset
Destination State KY
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Cruise
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred Yes
Date of most recent change to record Jun 3 2003 10:43AM
User who most recently changed record KENJ
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 --