# NTSB ATL89LA056: Beech A36, N17696, Athens, GA, December 20, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: December 20, 1988, 16:45 local (21:45 UTC)
- Place: Athens, GA
- Location: 33.9609° N, 83.3779° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Athens, GA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.9609&lon=-83.3779&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 2 minor
- Status: Completed, report November 28, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 7970
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL89LA056
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/7970/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL89LA056

## 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,valve,exhaust - failure,total (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing
  - wheels up landing - performed

## Analysis

WHILE CRUISING AT 6,000', THE PLT FELT AN INTENSE VIBRATION FM THE ENG. POWER WAS REDUCED & A DESCENT WAS BEGUN TOWARD A NEARBY ARPT. BEFORE REACHING THE ARPT, THE ENG LOST POWER & AN EMERGENCY WHEELS-UP LANDING WAS MADE IN AN OPEN FIELD. AN EXAM OF THE ENG REVEALED THE #1 EXHAUST VALVE HAD FAILED. THE VALVE GUIDE WAS BATTERED & BROKEN, AND WAS LOOSE IN ITS BORE. THE BORE WAS FRETTED & HAD BECOME OVERSIZED. THE ENG HAD BEEN OVERHAULED & INSTALLED IN THE ACFT ON 1/20/82 WITH A TOTAL TIME OF 1515 HRS. ACCORDING TO THE LOG BOOK, NEW VALVES & VALVE GUIDES HAD BEEN INSTALLED AT THAT TIME. THE ENG TIME SINCE MAJOR OVERHAUL WAS 1041 HRS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N17696](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N17696-1991-10-16), registration cancelled 1991-10-16, S/N E1004 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH A36
- Registry model: [Beech A36](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-a36) (registry code 1151604) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: E1004
- Airframe hours: 3330
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520-BA 285 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Registered owner: Bonanza Five, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, December 4, 1988, 9 hours before
- Departed: DNL, AUGUSTA, GA
- Destination: PDK, CHAMBLEE, GA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: runway 27, 4,989 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 39; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 619 total, 167 in this make and model, 491 as pilot in command, 27 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 210° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 63 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg

## 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 19881220062339A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19881220062339A), Dec 20, 1988: Beech A36, Athens, GA, Substantial damage. Engine quit en route. Failed to flair for emergency landing in open level field. Exhaust valve broke in NR1 cylinder

## Other investigations on N17696 (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 ANC80DAG08](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC80DAG08), Oct 20, 1979: Beech A36 (N17696), Quinhagak, AK, substantial damage

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.

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