CHI00LA173

The accident occurred during the aircraft's maiden flight. The pilot reported that after takeoff while on downwind leg, the engine 'stopped immediately.' A forced landing was made in a water saturated bean field during which the airplane nosed over. Inspection of the engine revealed the thrust bearings were improperly installed on an improperly located locator pin in the engine case. The dislocated pin resulted in the bearing half being askew which resulted in a subsequent loss of lubrication.

On June 24, 2000, at 1710 central daylight time, a McClish Funk B85C, N24120, nosed over during a forced landing following a total loss of engine power while on downwind at the Gardner Municipal Airport, Gardner, Kansas. The pilot received minor injuries. The airplane was substantially damaged. The 14 CFR Part 91 flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions without a flight plan. The pilot reported the accident occurred during the aircraft's maiden flight. The flight had originated just prior to the accident.

The pilot reported that the accident occurred on the maiden flight for the airplane. He stated he departed runway 35 at the Gardner Municipal Airport and climbed to 400 feet above ground level. He reported that everything was normal at this point. He then turned downwind and was about halfway down the downwind leg when the engine "stopped immediately." He reported, "It made a metal sound just as the engine stopped."

The pilot located a bean field in which to make a forced landing. He reported, "I touched down between thirty and forty miles per hour. The bean field was very saturated with water from heavy rains during the week. I rolled about fifteen feet. The mud on the bean field resulted in rapid deceleration causing the left main gear to collapse. Then the airplane sank very deep into the mud causing the airplane to flip on its top."

The airplane and engine were examined by an inspector from the Federal Aviation Administration Kansas City, Missouri, Flight Standards District Office. The inspector reported, "It was determined that the thrust bearings had been improperly installed on an improperly located locator pin in the engine case. At some unknown time, the locator pin hole was redrilled in the wrong location and a pin installed. ... The dislocated pin caused the bearing half to ride askew, not flush with the parting surface of the case. The mating bearing half was located on its pin properly, causing an interference between the bearing ends. When the case halves were forced together under torque from the case bolts, the bearings shifted against their respective pins and were swelled out at the locator cutouts. ... This removed the required clearance of the crankshaft thrust boss to thrust bearing surface. Without this clearance, lubrication of the thrust bearing was interrupted."