# Accident 20040124001189A: Gulstm 112A, Bedford, MA, January 24, 2004

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: January 24, 2004, 22:15 local time
- Place: Bedford, MA
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 42.5181° N, 71.2992° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.5181&lon=-71.2992&mi=10
- Aircraft: N1381J, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1381J-2006-08-22) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Rockwell International 112A (registry code 7630302, https://openairdocs.org/model/rockwell-international-112a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming I0360 series (registry code 41515, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: GULSTM 112A
- Reported engine: LYC IO360C1D6
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 830 total, 30 in this make and model, 9 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB IAD04LA008](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD04LA008) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040124001189A

## Narrative

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

(-23) PILOT REPORTED SMOKE IN THE COCKPIT TO BOSTON TRACON WHILE IN CRUISE FLIGHT AT 4500 FEET MSL WHILE ENROUTE FROM HYA TO ASH. SOURCE OF SMOKE COULD NOT BE IDENTIFIED INITIALLY AND THE PILOT SHUT DOWN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM BUT SMOKE CONTINUED TO BE A PROBLEM. ENGINE BEGAN TO VIBRATE SEVERELY AND PILOT ELECTED TO SHUT DOWN THE ENGINE. PILOT DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS A FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. PILOT OPENED THE WINDOWS TO ELIMINATE SMOKE BUT THE FIRE CONTINUED TO BURN. AIRCRAFT CRASHLANDED INTO 60 FOOT HARDWOOD TREES APPROXIMATELY 4 NM NORTH OF HANSCOM FIELD (BED). FUEL TANKS RUPTURED UPON CRASHLANDING AND AIRCRAFT WAS TOTALLY CONSUMED BY FIRE. PILOT AND PASSENGER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. NO ENFORCEMENT OR REEXAMINATION IS PLANNED. INITIAL TEARDOWN OF THE AIRCRAFT ENGINE INDICATES THAT THE NUMBER TWO (2) PISTON CONNECTING ROD TIP CAP FAILED AND CAUSED THE CONNECTING ROD TO BE PUSHED THROUGH THE SIDE OF THE ENGINE CASE, CAUSING ENGINE OIL TO BE SPRAYED ONTO HOT EXHAUST MANIFOLD AND CATCH FIRE.

## 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 IAD04LA008](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD04LA008), Jan 25, 2004: Rockwell 112A (N1381J), Bedford, MA, destroyed. Probable cause: Failure of the #2 piston connecting rod cap, which resulted in a hole in the engine crankcase and a loss of engine power. A factor was dark night lighting condition.

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.