# NTSB ATL03LA143: Globe GC-1B, N3721K, Summerville, SC, September 20, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 20, 2003, 11:15 local (15:15 UTC) - Place: Summerville, SC - Coordinates: 33.058055, -80.274169 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.0581&lon=-80.2742&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 28, 2006 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Columbia FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 58013 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL03LA143 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/58013/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL03LA143 ## Probable cause A loss of engine power due to the failure of the engine # 6 connecting rod bearing. A factor was the collision with a gate. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - mech failure/malf, cruise - engine assembly,connecting rod - failure,total (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - On ground/water collision with object, emergency landing - object - fence (contributing factor) ## Analysis According to the pilot, during cruise flight the engine began to make a loud "tapping" noise and began to vibrate. As the pilot maneuvered to make an emergency landing on a dirt road, the engine made a loud "bang," lost power, and collided with a gate on rollout,. Examination of the engine revealed that the number 6 connecting rod bearing failed and the connecting rod separated from the crankshaft. Review of the engine records revealed that the engine was removed from the airplane on September 29, 1987, and reinstalled on the airplane on September 22, 1998. There were no records indicating that the engine was stored in accordance with the manufactures service information letter, SIL99-1: Engine preservation for active and stored aircraft. ## Factual narrative On September 20, 2003, at 1115 eastern daylight time, a Globe GC-1B, N3721K, registered to and operated by a private pilot, collided with the ground in the vicinity of the city of Summerville, South Carolina, while conducting an emergency landing. The personal flight was operated under the provision of Title 14 Part 91 and visual flight rules. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of accident. The private pilot and passenger were not injured. The flight departed Summerville, South Carolina, on September 20, 2003, at 1100. According to the pilot, during cruise flight the engine began to make a loud "tapping" noise and began to vibrate. As the pilot maneuvered to make an emergency landing the engine made a loud "bang" and loss power. The pilot conducted an emergency landing on a dirt road and the airplane collided with a gate on rollout. Examination of the airplane revealed the right main landing gear was dislodged from the fuselage, and the outboard section of the right wing was bent upward. The pilot reported no flight control malfunctions prior to the flight. Examination of the engine revealed that the # 6 connecting rod bearing failed and the connecting rod separated from the crankshaft. Review of the engine records revealed that the engine was removed from the airplane on September 29, 1987, and reinstalled on the airplane on September 22, 1998. There was no record that showed the engine was stored in accordance with the manufactures service information letter, SIL99-1: "Engine Preservation For Active and Stored Aircraft". ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3721K](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3721K-2011-08-31), registration cancelled 2011-08-31, S/N 1414, built 1946 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Globe GC-1B - Registry model: [Globe GC-1B](https://openairdocs.org/model/globe-gc-1b) (registry code 9230104) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental C125 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c125-series) (registry code 17011, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 1414 - Airframe hours: 1499 - Engines: Continental C-125-2 105 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Allen Campbell - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, November 26, 2002, 19 hours before - Departed: DYB, SUMMERVILLE, SC - Destination: DYB, SUMMERVILLE, SC - Airport: JZI, Charleston Executive ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 35; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front; flight hours: 721 total, 21 in this make and model, 31 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 0° at 0 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 30.15 inHg - Observed at: CHS ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20030920024309A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030920024309A), Sep 20, 2003: Swftms GC1B, Summerville, SC, Substantial damage. (-23) Aircraft pilot performed an emergency landing on a dirt road approximately 11 miles northwest of the charleston VOR after loss of engine power. Aircraft… 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. --- 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.