GULFPORT, MS, USA
N9700Q
BEECH A24R
WHILE CRUISING IN VFR CONDS ON AN IFR FLT PLAN, THE ENG FAILED & THE PLT ELECTED TO LAND ON A ROAD. AS HE WAS MAKING AN APCH TO LAND, THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH A POWER LINE & A TREE. AN EXAM OF THE ENG REVEALED THE #2 CONNECTING ROD ASSEMBLY HAD FAILED & THE #2 CYLINDER HAD SUBSEQUENTLY SEPARATED. ACCORDING TO THE ACFT OWNER, THE ACFT HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN INVOLVED IN A SUDDEN ENG STOPPAGE AFTER THE NOSE GEAR HAD COLLAPSED. THE ENG WAS THEN OVERHAULED. AFTER ABOUT ANOTHER 15 HRS OF OPN, THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED AGAIN. SUBSEQUENTLY, A DIE PENETRANT CHECK & RUNOUT OF THE CRANKSHAFT FLANGE WAS MADE. ACCORDING TO THE ENG MANUFACTURER, THE INSTALLED CONNECTING RODS & BEARINGS DID NOT CONFORM TO LYCOMING SVC BULLETING #439, DATED 2/17/79. THE ACFT HAD BEEN OPERATED SOME 200 TO 300 HRS SINCE THE LAST ENG OVERHAUL (FOLLOWING THE 1ST GEAR COLLAPSE).
FAILURE OF A #2 CONNECTING ROD ASSEMBLY, WHICH RESULTED IN SEPARATION OF THE #2 CYLINDER AND SUBSEQUENT LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE: INADEQUATE MAINTENANCE, THE TRANSMISSION (POWER) LINE, AND TREES.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
Aviation Accidents App
In-Depth Access to Aviation Accident Reports
