# NTSB ATL90LA035: Waco HRE, N31654, Alexander City, AL, December 6, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: December 6, 1989, 15:00 local (21:00 UTC)
- Place: Alexander City, AL
- Coordinates: 32.919532, -85.929519 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.9195&lon=-85.9295&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report June 22, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 8186
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL90LA035
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/8186/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL90LA035

## 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

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power(total) - mech failure/malf, takeoff - initial climb
  - engine assembly,crankshaft - vibration (contributing factor)
  - maintenance,balancing - inadequate, other maintenance personnel (contributing factor)
  - ignition system,magneto - vibration (cause)
  - ignition system,magneto - fractured (cause)
  - ignition system,magneto - separation (cause)
- Forced landing, landing - flare/touchdown
- Nose over, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - loose gravel/sandy (contributing factor)

## 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](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N31654-2021-04-03), registration cancelled 2021-04-03, S/N 5157, built 1942 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: WACO HRE
- Registry model: [Waco HRE](https://openairdocs.org/model/waco-hre) (registry code 9600906) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming R680E series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-r680e-series) (registry code 41545, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 5157
- Engines: 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

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 68; 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 (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19891206049079A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19891206049079A), Dec 6, 1989: Waco HRE, Alexander City, AL, Substantial damage. Engine quit on climbout. Force landed and nosed over on sandy lakeshore. Magneto mounting studs broke mag separated

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.