Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Brookfield, Missouri 64628
Monday, April 30, 2007 16:43 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

he pilot reported that the engine was "operating normally" as he was flying at 6,500 feet mean sea level when the "engine blew up." He elected to execute a gear up forced landing to a corn field about two miles from the airport, but the airplane impacted a ditch during the emergency landing. The engine teardown inspection revealed a hole in the crankcase approximately 3 inches by 3 inches above the number 4 cylinder, which included the 11 and 1 o'clock deck studs. The number 4 cylinder had separated from the crankcase and the number 4 connecting rod was not attached to the number 4 crankshaft pin. The number 4 connecting rod and rod cap exhibited signatures that were consistent with an overload event that deformed and/or sheared the threads on the nuts and bolts. Cylinder number 4 deck stud nuts 6, 7, and 8 were reported missing from the engine at the accident scene, and subsequently found inside the engine cowling of the aircraft. Cylinder number 4 deck studs 6, 7, and 8 were securely attached to the engine crankcase and the threads were clean and undamaged. The 2 o'clock cylinder deck stud was fractured and missing. The remaining deck studs and thru-bolts all exhibited ductile fractures indicative of tensile overload. The other five cylinders' thru-bolt and deck stud break-away torque measurements were recorded for each thru-bolt and deck stud. The inspection revealed that numerous thru-bolts and studs had break-away torque values that did not comply with the manufacturer's limitations. The aircraft engine's logbook indicated that the engine received an annual maintenance inspection on February 16, 2005. The engine logbook entry stated, "Removed and overhauled all 6 cylinders. Installed new rings, ground valves, cleaned and gapped spark plugs." The tach time indicated 5380.5 hours at the time of the annual inspection. At the time of the accident, the tach time was 5,662.24 hours, 281.74 hours since the cylinders had been replaced.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Improper maintenance by maintenance personnel by not properly torquing cylinder thru-bolts. The loose stud nuts which resulted in the separation of the cylinder and the crop and ditch were factors.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/30/2007
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1643
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City Brookfield
Event State MISSOURI
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 64628
Event Date Year 2007
Event Date Month 4
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 394612N
Event Location Longitude 0930045W
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 --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1655 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 230
Weather Observation Facility ID IRK
Elevation of weather observation facility 966
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 35
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) 11
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 210
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 16
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 22
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.86
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 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 23046
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date Apr 30 2007 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Feb 28 2008 3:59PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\johb
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Kansas City, FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N8820M
NTSB Number CHI07LA127
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed Unknown
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Beech
Aircraft Model S35
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number D-7331
Certified Max Gross Weight 3300
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 6
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection May 1 2006 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 137
Airframe Hours 5662
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Marc Incorporated
Aircraft Owner Street Address 44 Crossgates Drive
Aircraft Owner City Brandon
Aircraft Owner State MS
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 39042
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 M16
Departure City Raymond
Departure State MS
Departure Country USA
Departure Time --
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code FOD
Destination City Fort Dodge
Destination State IA
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Emergency landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Feb 5 2008 2:30PM
User who most recently changed record SULP
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location NA
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --