# NTSB CEN21LA221: Beech A36, N1875W, Pinckneyville, IL, May 14, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: May 14, 2021, 15:00 local (20:00 UTC) - Place: Pinckneyville, IL - Coordinates: 38.076674, -89.402136 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.0767&lon=-89.4021&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: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 103093 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN21LA221 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/103093/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103093 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA221 ## Probable cause The total loss of engine power due to oil starvation. The reason for the oil starvation could not be determined based on available evidence. ## 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: [Beech A36, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058520/cases.md?model=1151604), [All aircraft, 233 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058520/cases.md) - [Fluids: oil](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071020): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid level (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech A36, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071020/cases.md?model=1151604), [All aircraft, 174 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071020/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: [Beech A36, 56 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=1151604), [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: [Beech A36, 56 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=1151604), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Beech A36, 78 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=1151604), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis While at an altitude of 8,000 ft mean sea level, the pilot noticed the engine oil pressure began to fluctuate. The pilot then requested to divert to the nearest airport, and shortly thereafter, the engine began to shake and lost total power. Unable to make the airport, the pilot executed a forced landing to a field. During the landing, the airplane’s nose wheel landing gear impacted a ditch. The nose landing gear collapsed, and the airplane came to rest upright. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing and fuselage. Postaccident examination of the engine revealed that connecting rods 2 through 5 were fractured and separated from the crankshaft, and the connecting rod bearings were destroyed. Heat distress signatures were noted on the crankshaft connecting rod locations. The connecting rod bearings number 1 and 6 displayed significant scoring consistent with a lack of oil lubrication. It is likely the engine failure was the result of oil starvation to the connecting rod bearings, however, the reason for the oil starvation could not be determined based on the available evidence. ## Factual narrative On May 14, 2021, at 1500 central daylight time, a Beech A36, N1875W, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Pinckneyville, Illinois. The pilot and passenger were not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. According to the pilot, while at an altitude of 8,000 ft mean sea level, he noticed the engine oil pressure began to fluctuate. The pilot contacted air traffic control and requested to divert to the nearest airport, which was the Pinckneyville-Du Quoin Airport, Pinckneyville, Illinois. Shortly thereafter, the engine began to shake and lost total power. Unable to make the airport, the pilot executed a forced landing to a field. During the landing, the airplane’s nose wheel landing gear impacted a ditch. The nose landing gear collapsed, and the airplane came to rest upright. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing and fuselage (See Figure 1.). A significant amount of engine oil was noted on the underside of the fuselage. Visual examination of the engine revealed holes in the crankcase near the #1, #2, and #4 connecting rod locations. Figure 1. Airplane location Postaccident examination of the engine revealed that all crankcase and cylinder attachment bolts and nuts were secured and adequately torqued. Connecting rods 2 through 5 were fractured and separated from the crankshaft, and the connecting rod bearings were destroyed. Heat distress signatures were noted on the crankshaft connecting rod locations (See Figure 2.). The connecting rod bearings number 1 and 6 displayed significant scoring consistent with a lack of oil lubrication. Several metal fragments were noted in the oil pan, and about ½ quart of oil was drained from the engine. The reason for the oil starvation could not be determined based on the available evidence. Figure 2. Crankshaft damage at #2 connecting rod A review of the maintenance records revealed the factory-remanufactured Continental IO-520-BB engine was installed on July 4, 2017, at an engine total time of 0.0 hours. At the time of the accident, the engine had accumulated about 331 total hours. From the installation to the accident date, the completed engine maintenance were annual inspections and oil changes. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1875W](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1875W), registered now, S/N E-437, built 1973 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BEECH A36 - Registry model: [Beech A36](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-a36) (registry code 1151604) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: E-437 - Year built: 1973 - Airframe hours: 5780 - Engines: Continental IO-520-BB 285 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 14, 2020, 48 hours before - Departed: GGP, Logansport, IN - Destination: 42A, Melbourne, AR - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: PJY - Equipment: ADS-B, Stall warning system, Satellite tracking device, Onboard weather, Auto-pilot, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Handheld GPS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 61; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review December 21, 2019; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 403 total, 333 in this make and model, 403 as pilot in command, 29 in the last 90 days, 18 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 160° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 36 °F - Altimeter: 30.29 inHg - Observed at: KSAR, 15 nm away - METAR: KSAR 142007Z AUTO 16006KT 10SM CLR 20/02 A3029 RMK AO2 ## 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 20210514008869A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210514008869A), May 14, 2021: Beech A36, Pinckneyville, IL, Substantial damage. On 14 may 2021 N1875, a Beechcraft model A36, serial number E-437 experienced loss of oil pressure and loss of power resulting in a emergency landing in a… ## Other investigations on N1875W (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 LAX84LA156](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX84LA156), Jan 26, 1984: Beech A-36 (N1875W), Victorville, CA, substantial damage ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 27, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103093. 38.1 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 5.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12604936&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Record of conversation pilot (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 157 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12603404&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ROC%20Pilot-Rel.pdf - FAA engine examination summary (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 132 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12605392&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FAA%20Engine%20teardown_examination_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Excerpts of engine records (item 4, PDF, 2 pages, 32.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12604742&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Excerpt%20of%20Engine%20Records_Redacted-Rel.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.