20230521015719A

Accident · Destroyed

FAA accident report · Beech V35 · Rougemont, NC · May 21, 2023

Date: May 21, 2023 · 11:20 local
Place: Rougemont, NC
Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Destroyed
Aircraft: N272S
NTSB investigation: NTSBERA23FA238
Reported as: Beech V35
Reported engine: Continental IO-520 series
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 1
Other injuries: 0
Pilot’s certificate: Private pilot

N272SRegistered now · Beech V35S/N D-8002 · Built 1965 Airframe modelBeech V35 Engine modelContinental IO-520 seriesReciprocating

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

Aircraft engine experienced an in-flight failure. Pilot attempted to land in an open field. Powerline difficult to see may have been a factor. The aircraft crashed into trees to the side of the open field at approximately a 45-degree angle, right wing down. The aircraft erupted in fire and was mostly destroyed. A post-crash examination of the remaining aircraft proved two damaged engine cases, on the top side of both cases in the area of cylinders 3 and 4. The right engine case contained hole was approximately 5 inches in diameter. The left case hole was very similar in size and a connecting rod for number 3 cylinder was protruding. A post-crash engine disassembly and disassembly at teledyne Continental motors facility proved non-continental approved push rod tube seals were installed and appeared to be deformed. The examination results from Continental stated the engine failure was due to engine oil starvation.

As the FAA filed it

AIRCRAFT ENGINE EXPERIENCED AN IN-FLIGHT FAILURE. PILOT ATTEMPTED TO LAND IN AN OPEN FIELD. POWERLINE DIFFICULT TO SEE MAY HAVE BEEN A FACTOR. THE AIRCRAFT CRASHED INTO TREES TO THE SIDE OF THE OPEN FIELD AT APPROXIMATELY A 45-DEGREE ANGLE, RIGHT WING DOWN. THE AIRCRAFT ERUPTED IN FIRE AND WAS MOSTLY DESTROYED. A POST-CRASH EXAMINATION OF THE REMAINING AIRCRAFT PROVED TWO DAMAGED ENGINE CASES, ON THE TOP SIDE OF BOTH CASES IN THE AREA OF CYLINDERS 3 AND 4. THE RIGHT ENGINE CASE CONTAINED HOLE WAS APPROXIMATELY 5 INCHES IN DIAMETER. THE LEFT CASE HOLE WAS VERY SIMILAR IN SIZE AND A CONNECTING ROD FOR NUMBER 3 CYLINDER WAS PROTRUDING. A POST-CRASH ENGINE DISASSEMBLY AND DISASSEMBLY AT TELEDYNE CONTINENTAL MOTORS FACILITY PROVED NON-CONTINENTAL APPROVED PUSH ROD TUBE SEALS WERE INSTALLED AND APPEARED TO BE DEFORMED. THE EXAMINATION RESULTS FROM CONTINENTAL STATED THE ENGINE FAILURE WAS DUE TO ENGINE OIL STARVATION.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB ERA23FA238Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportRougemont, NCA total loss of engine power due to oil starvation. The source of the oil starvation could not be determined.May 21, 2023 · Destroyed