- Date
- October 17, 1991, 16:45 local (21:45 UTC)
- Place
- Selma, AL
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N3735YBeech A36
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report July 14, 1993
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19911017046849A
- Case key
- 8537
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
The fatigue failure of the engine crankshaft counterweight blade, which resulted from excessive wear of the counterweight pin bushings, due to corrosion from an unknown source.
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
During cruise flight, the engine RPM decreased, momentarily. The pilot landed and a mechanic checked the engine. No anomalies were found. A post maintenance flight, in the landing pattern, was flown to verify engine operation. On final approach, the engine quit, and the airplane was landed in rough terrain short of the runway. Examination of the engine revealed that the number 2 check counterweight blade was fractured. Metallurgical examination discovered corrosion pitting on the inner diameter of the counterweight pin bushings, as well as excessive inner diameter wear. The counterweight blade fracture exhibited evidence of fatigue. A log book entry indicated that the engine had been previously disassembled for examination following a lightning strike. There was no record of an engine overhaul. The safety board believes that the counterweight failed in fatigue, because of previous pitting damage to the bushings, from an unknown source.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N3735Y
- Reported as
- Beech A36
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- E-1767
- Airframe hours
- 3,070
- Engine
- Continental IO-520-BB, 285 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Gray, Thomas L.
- Registered owner
- Gray, Thomas L.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · July 17, 1991 · 68 hours before
- Airport
- SEM · Craig Field, runway 14, 8,002 × 150 ft, asphalt
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
- 31
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 358 total · 155 in this make and model · 271 as pilot in command · 52 in the last 90 days · 24 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 75 °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.
Other investigations on N3735Y · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.