Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Hettinger, North Dakota 58639
Saturday, July 30, 2011 10:00 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The agricultural airplane was maneuvering at 500 feet above ground level when the engine lost power, and oil immediately covered the windscreen. During the forced landing, the airplane impacted a dirt berm and came to rest in a ditch. A postaccident examination of the engine showed a hole in the side of the No. 5 cylinder, which is located at the bottom of the engine. The examination also revealed that several of the connecting rods, including the No. 5 master rod, were broken. There was no evidence in the engine of scoring, thermal damage, or oil starvation. Due to the extent of the engine damage, the initial failure mode could not be determined. At the time of the accident, the engine had accumulated 43 hours since major overhaul.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Internal failure of the engine for undetermined reasons.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/30/2011
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1000
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City Hettinger
Event State NORTH DAKOTA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 58639
Event Date Year 2011
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 460056N
Event Location Longitude 1023920W
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 Pilot
Time of the weather observation
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID --
Elevation of weather observation facility --
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation --
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) 24
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 16
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 360
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) --
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) 29587
NTSB Notification Source FAA Operations Center
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 26 2012 11:25AM
User who most recently changed record saua
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N90181
NTSB Number CEN11LA541
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 137: Agricultural
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name WEATHERLY AVIATION CO INC
Aircraft Model 620B
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 1613
Certified Max Gross Weight 4000
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats 1
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 1
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jul 5 2011 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 1315
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name AIR DAKOTA FLITE
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City HETTINGER
Aircraft Owner State ND
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 58639-0429
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name AIR DAKOTA FLITE
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City HETTINGER
Operator State ND
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 58639-0429
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Agriculture
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) Aerial Application
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code HEI
Departure City Hettinger
Departure State ND
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 950
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code HEI
Destination City Hettinger
Destination State ND
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 26 2012 10:51AM
User who most recently changed record saua
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 --