Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Fort Klamath, Oregon 97626
Saturday, February 8, 2003 10:15 PST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot reported that during descent for landing, the engine started to "knock" and "shutter." About 15 seconds later a "significant noise" was heard and oil and smoke began to come out of the engine cowling. The pilot initiated a forced landing to an open field. During the landing roll, the aircraft traveled over a ditch, which sheared off the nose gear. During the post-accident engine inspection, oil was visible on the bottom engine cowling and oil was streaked along the bottom of the fuselage from the engine to the tail. A large hole was noted to the top left side of the crankcase as well as a hole in the bottom left side between cylinders two and four. The number two rod end cap was missing as well as the bolts and nuts. Severe heat distress was noted on the number two connecting rod end and to the associated crankshaft rod journal. All oil passages were clear. The number two bearing was missing. Fragments of connecting rod and bearing material was found in the oil sump. The remaining connecting rods were intact with no evidence of heat distress noted. All oil lines were intact and connections were tight. No evidence of an oil leak was noted.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The separation of the rod end cap from the connecting rod for an undetermined reason during the descent for landing. The ditch was a factor.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 2/8/2003
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1015
Event Time Zone Pacific Standard Time
Event City Fort Klamath
Event State OREGON
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 97626
Event Date Year 2003
Event Date Month 2
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 424200N
Event Location Longitude 1220000W
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 953 Pacific Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 146
Weather Observation Facility ID LMT
Elevation of weather observation facility 4095
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 35
Time Zone of the weather observation PST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 25000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions --
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) -1
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -7
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator --
Wind Speed (knots) --
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.11
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 4
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 14101
NTSB Notification Source FAA Regional Operations Center
NTSB Notification Date Feb 8 2003 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1100
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Sep 30 2003 9:55AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Hillsboro, Oregon

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N2392W
NTSB Number SEA03FA038
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 Beech
Aircraft Model A23
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number MA-7
Certified Max Gross Weight 2550
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 Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jan 21 2003 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 2
Airframe Hours 1653
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Cascade Wings LLC
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. Box 613
Aircraft Owner City Sisters
Aircraft Owner State OR
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 97759
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 RDM
Departure City Redmond
Departure State OR
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 900
Departure Time Zone PST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code 2S7
Destination City Chiloquin
Destination State OR
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Landing - roll
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Jul 16 2003 12:38PM
User who most recently changed record STAM
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location --
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --