Individually Owned: 150,657
Corporate Owned: 137,281
Bellefontaine Regional Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report
Bellefontaine, Ohio 43311
Sunday, March 15, 2009 15:00 EDT
NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident
During cruise flight the pilot noticed abnormal engine noises and a partial loss of engine oil pressure. He immediately diverted to the nearest airport, but during the turn to base leg the engine oil pressure dropped to zero pounds per square inch and the engine seized. The airplane was not in a position to reach the runway threshold or to clear the airport perimeter fence. During the landing rollout the airplane impacted the airport perimeter fence, damaging both wings and the nose landing gear. An engine teardown examination revealed that the Number 3 cylinder connecting rod assembly had separated from its corresponding crankshaft journal. The journal surface was blue in color, consistent with exposure to excessive heat and lack of lubricant. The oil suction screen was obstructed with bearing material. The Number 3 cylinder connecting rod cap was found jammed beneath the counterbalance weight. One of the two connecting rod stretch bolts remained intact. The corresponding nut was found finger tight. The measured torque for the Number 2 cylinder connecting rod bolts were significantly less than the manufacturer's specification. The engine had accumulated a total of 3,799 hours since new and 492.7 hours since its last overhaul in 1999. The engine was last inspected 23.9 hours before the accident occurred.
NTSB Probable Cause Narrative
The inadequate torque of the Number 3 cylinder rod bolts by maintenance personnel, which resulted in a failure of the connecting rod and a total loss of engine power.
Event Information
| Type of Event | Accident |
| Event Date | 3/15/2009 |
| Event Day of the Week | Sunday |
| Time of Event | 1500 |
| Event Time Zone | Eastern Daylight Time |
| Event City | Bellefontaine |
| Event State | OHIO |
| Event Country | -- |
| Zipcode of the event site | 43311 |
| Event Date Year | 2009 |
| Event Date Month | 3 |
| MidAir Collision Indicator | No |
| On Ground Collision occurred ? | No |
| Event Location Latitude | 402220N |
| Event Location Longitude | 0834912W |
| Event Location Airport | Bellefontaine Regional Airport |
| Event Location Nearest Airport ID | KEDJ |
| 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 | 1122 |
| Weather Briefing Completeness | -- |
| Investigator's weather source | Weather Observation Facility |
| Time of the weather observation | 1453 Eastern Daylight Time |
| Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) | 335 |
| Weather Observation Facility ID | KOAH |
| Elevation of weather observation facility | 975 |
| Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) | 22 |
| 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) | 10 |
| Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) | 14 |
| Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) | -3 |
| Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) | 80 |
| Variable Wind Indicator | Wind direction could be determined |
| Wind Speed (knots) | 10 |
| Wind Velocity Indicator | -- |
| Wind Gust Indicator | Not Gusting |
| Wind Gust (knots) | -- |
| Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) | 30.09 |
| 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 | 2 |
| Injury Total Serious | -- |
| Injury Total All | -- |
| Investigating Agency | NTSB |
| NTSB Docket Number (internal use) | 25469 |
| NTSB Notification Source | FAA - Great Lakes ROC |
| NTSB Notification Date | -- |
| NTSB Notification Time | -- |
| Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information | -- |
| Date of most recent change to record | Jun 10 2009 9:43AM |
| User who most recently changed record | johb |
| Basic weather conditions | Visual Meteorological Cond |
| FAA District Office | -- |
Aircraft Involved |
|
|---|---|
Aircraft #1 |
|
| Aircraft Registration Number | N9348S |
| NTSB Number | CEN09LA209 |
| 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 | B24R |
| Aircraft Series Identifier | -- |
| Aircraft Serial Number | MC-350 |
| Certified Max Gross Weight | 2750 |
| Aircraft Category | Airplane |
| Aircraft Registration Class | -- |
| Aircraft is a homebuilt? | -- |
| Flight Crew Seats | 2 |
| Cabin Crew Seats | -- |
| Passenger Seats | -- |
| Total number of seats on the aircraft | 6 |
| Number of Engines | 1 |
| Fixed gear or retractable gear | Fixed |
| Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection | Annual |
| Date of Last Inspection | Apr 25 2008 12:00AM |
| Airframe hours since last inspection | -- |
| Airframe Hours | 3799 |
| ELT Installed | Yes |
| ELT Activated | Yes |
| ELT Aided Location of Event Site | No |
| ELT Type | C91-A |
| Aircraft Owner Name | Kevin Anthony Mierzejewski |
| Aircraft Owner Street Address | 1665 Pevee Road |
| Aircraft Owner City | Ada |
| Aircraft Owner State | OH |
| Aircraft Owner Country | USA |
| Aircraft Owner Zipcode | 45810 |
| Operator is an individual? | Yes |
| Operator Name | Kevin Anthony Mierzejewski |
| Operator Same as Owner? | Yes |
| Operator Is Doing Business As | -- |
| Operator Address Same as Owner? | Yes |
| Operator Street Address | 1665 Pevee Road |
| Operator City | Ada |
| Operator State | OH |
| Operator Country | USA |
| Operator Zip code | 45810 |
| Operator Code | -- |
| Owner has at least one certificate | None |
| Other Operator of large aircraft? | No |
| 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 | I74 |
| Departure City | Urbana |
| Departure State | OH |
| Departure Country | USA |
| Departure Time | 1445 |
| Departure Time Zone | CDT |
| Destination Same as Local Flt | -- |
| Destination Airport Code | 5G7 |
| Destination City | Bluffton |
| Destination State | OH |
| Destination Country | USA |
| Specific Phase of Flight | -- |
| Report sent to ICAO? | -- |
| Evacuation occurred | -- |
| Date of most recent change to record | Apr 2 2009 3:52PM |
| User who most recently changed record | foxt |
| Since inspection or accident | Time of Accident |
| Event Location Runway Number and Location | N/A |
| Runway Length | -- |
| Runway Width | -- |
| Sight Seeing flight | No |
| Air Medical Flight | No |
| Medical Flight | -- |