# Accident 19980714024869A: Tcraft BL65, Bedford, PA, July 14, 1998

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 14, 1998, 15:30 local time
- Place: Bedford, PA
- Airport: Bedford County Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Forced/Precautionary Landing
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 40.0096° N, 78.4994° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.0096&lon=-78.4994&mi=10
- Aircraft: N27616, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N27616-2012-08-27) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Taylorcraft BL-65 (registry code 8850350, https://openairdocs.org/model/taylorcraft-bl-65) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-145B series (registry code 41502, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-145b-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: TCRAFT BL65
- Reported engine: LYC O145*
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 920 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB NYC98LA143](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC98LA143) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980714024869A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(-23)A/C TRIED TO RETURN TO THE AIRPORT AFTER TAKEOFF DUE TO OIL ON THE WINDSHIELDS. INSTALLATION OF THE AIRCRAFT SHOWED THE RIGHT WING HAD BROKEN BOTH SPARS, THE EMPENNAGE WAS TWISTED APPROX. 20-30 DEGREES AND THE RIGHT MAIN GEAR HAD THE JURY BRACE TORN OFF. CHECK OF THE AIRCRAFT SHOWED FLIGHT CONTROL CONTINGENTLY TO BE GOOD, ENGINE CONTROLS WERE PROPER AND THE FUEL INDICATED TO BE APPROS. 1/2 TANK. NO WATER WAS FOUND IN THE TANK. THE CARBURATOR BOWL WAS CLEAR AND NO OBSTRUCTIONS WERE FOUND IN THE INTAKE. THE SPARK PLUGS WERE CLEAN AND ALL PRODUCED A SPARK. ENGINE COMPRESSION WAS PRESENT IN ALL CYLINDERS (USING THUMB). OIL DIP STICK SHOWED 4 1/2 QUARTS OF OIL. OIL WAS ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE COWL AND ON THE WINDSHIELD AFTER THE ACCIDENT. (.4) THE PILOT ADDED ENGINE OIL BEFORE THE FLIGHT. AFTER TAKEOFF, HE NOTICED OIL ON THE AIRPLANE'S WINDSHIELD. HE RETURNED TO THE AIRPORT, BUT REDUCED POWER EARLY, LANDED ABOUT 500 FEET SHORT OF THE RUNWAY, AND STRUCK A FENCE POST. THE OIL FILLER CAP WAS FOUND BETWEEN TWO CYLINDERS, 4 1/2 QUARTS OF OIL WERE FOUND IN THE ENGINE, AND THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF ANY MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION. DESPITE NUMEROUS REQUESTS, INCLUDING A SUBPOENA, THE PILOT DID    NOT PROVIDE A COMPLETED PILOT/OPERATOR REPORT. THE PILOT DID NOT HAVE A CURRENT MEDICAL CERTIFICATE, NOR A CURRENT BIENNIAL FLIGHT REVIEW. ON HIS LAST MEDICAL CERTIFICATE APPLICATION, IN 1993, THE PILOT REPORTED A TOTAL FLIGHT TIME OF 920 HOURS. HOWEVER, THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF ANY FLIGHT TIME SINCE THEN. THERE WAS ALSO NO EVIDENCE OF PILOT COMPETENCY IN EITHER NORMAL OR EMERGENCY PROCEDURES, IN ANY AIRCRAFT.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB NYC98LA143](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC98LA143), Jul 14, 1998: Taylorcraft BL-65 (N27616), Bedford, PA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's inadequate preflight inspection in which he failed to secure the oil filler cap, and his misjudgment of distance and altitude from the runway.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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