- Date
- December 6, 1989, 15:00 local (21:00 UTC)
- Place
- Alexander City, AL
- Injuries
- 1 serious, 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N31654Waco HRE
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report June 22, 1992
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19891206049079A
- Case key
- 8186
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
An engine failure due to separation of the magneto as a result of a broken mounting stud. The mounting stud most likely failed due to vibrations induced by an inadequately balanced crankshaft.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
Shortly after take off the engine lost power. A forced landing was made on a sandy lake shore & the airplane nosed over. The magneto drive gear & a broken magneto mounting stud had separated from the engine and was found near the wreckage. The engine was overhauled about 125 hrs prior to the accident at which time a used crankshaft was installed. The pilot reported that about 1 month prior to this accident that a similar incident occurred when both mounting studs broke. This was the only waco hre model known to be actively flying.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N31654
- Reported as
- Waco HRE
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 5157
- Engine
- Lycoming R-680, 300 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Birmingham Executive Aero Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · November 20, 1989 · 5 hours before
- Departed
- NONE · Alexander City, AL
- Destination
- BHM · Birmingham, AL
- Airport
- NONE · Willow Point
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 68
- Certificate
- Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 4,300 total · 50 in this make and model · 4,000 as pilot in command · 25 in the last 90 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 270° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 25 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 61 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.