# NTSB CEN09IA595: Beech V35, N97500, Nacogdoches, TX, September 20, 2009 - Type: NTSB incident investigation - Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report - Date: September 20, 2009, 17:18 local (22:18 UTC) - Place: Nacogdoches, TX - Coordinates: 31.586666, -94.611114 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.5867&lon=-94.6111&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 3, 2010 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration, Teledyne Continental Motors Inc - NTSB case key (mKey): 74774 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN09IA595 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/74774/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74774 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09IA595 ## Probable cause The complete loss of engine power due to failure of the number two connecting rod. The reason for the connecting rod failure could not be determined. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Engine (reciprocating): recip engine power section](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058520): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 233 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058520/cases.md) - [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341); cases with it: [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) ## Analysis While in cruise flight the airplane's engine experienced a catastrophic failure. The pilot attempted to glide to a local airport, but was unable. While performing the forced landing to a vacant parking lot the airplane's upper windscreen impacted a static wire; however, the pilot was able to land successfully with minor damage to the airplane. Approximately 12 quarts of oil were drained from the engine sump before a tear down examination was performed. The examination revealed that the number two and four connecting rods had separated from the crankshaft. The number two connecting rod cap and rod cap bearings were thermally discolored, and the two rod cap bolts were found separated. Impact signatures on the number four connecting rod were constant with a secondary failure. The reason for the number two rod cap thermal discoloration and subsequent rod failure could not be determined. ## Factual narrative On September 20, 2009, about 1718 central daylight time, a Beech V35 airplane, N97500, experienced a complete loss of engine power while in cruise flight, and subsequently made a forced landing near, Nacogdoches, Texas. The airplane sustained minor damage and the private pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The 138-mile cross-country flight originated from the Rusk County Airport (RFI), Henderson, Texas, and was destined for the Southeast Texas Regional Airport (BPT), Beaumont, Texas. According to the pilot, while in cruise flight the airplane's engine experienced a catastrophic failure and stopped producing power. The pilot attempted to reach the A L Mangham Jr. Regional Airport (OCH), Nacogdoches, Texas, but was unable. While performing a forced landing to a vacant parking lot the airplane's upper windscreen impacted a static wire; however, the pilot was able to land successfully. A review of the engine logbook revealed that the engine had last been inspected in accordance with a 100 hour inspection on September 1, 2009. At the time of the accident the engine had accumulated a total time of approximately 3,188.9 hours and 1,527.9 hours since major overhaul. The last major overhaul was accomplished on June 29, 1994, and a top overhaul was performed on November 14, 2003. An examination of the engine revealed several holes in the top side of the crankcase. Approximately 12 quarts of oil were drained from the engine sump before the engine was removed from the airframe and disassembled. The number one, three, five, and six connecting rods were in place and free to rotate on the crankshaft; however, connecting rods two and four were separated from their rod journals. The number two connecting rod cap and rod cap bearings were thermally discolored, and the two rod cap bolts were found separated. Impact signatures on the number four connecting rod were constant with a secondary failure. The reason for the number two connecting rod cap thermal discoloration and subsequent rod failure could not be determined. ## Aircraft - Registration: N97500 (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: BEECH V35 - Category: Airplane - Serial number: D-8083 - Airframe hours: 5334 - Engines: CONT MOTOR IO 520 SERIES 285 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Minor damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Annual, September 1, 2009 - Departed: RFI, Henderson, TX - Destination: BPT, Beaumont, TX ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 57; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review December 16, 2007; seat: left; flight hours: 2,152 total, 1,970 in this make and model, 2,058 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F - Altimeter: 29.92 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). - [Incident 20090920021559I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090920021559I), Sep 20, 2009: Beech V35, Nacogdoches, TX, Minor damage. Aircraft departed gladewater, TX(07F) with a fuel stop at henderson, TX(rfi) with a final destination of beaumont, TX (bpt). Climbing out of henderson, TX at… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 25, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74774. 3.4 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 560 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40319621&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Digital Photo 1, Engine (item 2, .PDF, 2.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40319622&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Digital%20Photo%201,%20Engine%20-Master.PDF 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.