# NTSB CHI05CA256: Boeing A75N1, N52551, Ellisville, IL, September 7, 2005

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: September 7, 2005, 08:10 local (13:10 UTC)
- Place: Ellisville, IL
- Coordinates: 40.604721, -90.287498
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.6047&lon=-90.2875&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 20, 2005
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - Springfield FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 62601
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI05CA256
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/62601/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI05CA256

## Probable cause

The loss of engine power due to the failure of the number four connecting rod.  A factor to the accident was the soybean crop.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(partial) - mech failure/malf, cruise - normal
  - engine assembly,connecting rod - failure (cause)
- Forced landing, emergency descent/landing
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, emergency landing
  - terrain condition - crop (contributing factor)
- Nose over, emergency landing

## Analysis

The airplane nosed over during a forced landing after a loss of engine power during cruise flight.  The pilot reported that he heard a "real loud bang" and the airplane began "shaking with [unbalanced] engine."  The pilot stated that he secured the engine, and performed a forced landing into a soybean field.  The pilot reported that the soybean plants wrapped around the main landing gear, causing the airplane to nose over.  A post-accident inspection of the engine revealed that the number four connecting rod had fractured.

## Factual narrative

On September 7, 2005, around 0810 central daylight time, a Boeing A75N1 (Stearman), N52551, owned and operated by a private pilot, was substantially damaged when it nosed over during a forced landing after a loss of engine power near Ellisville, Illinois.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident.  The pilot and passenger were not injured.  The cross-country flight was operating under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 without a flight plan.  The flight departed Galesburg Municipal Airport (GBG), Galesburg, Illinois, at 0745 and was enroute to Litchfield Municipal Airport (3LF), near Litchfield, Illinois.

The pilot reported that during cruise flight he heard a "real loud bang" and the airplane began "shaking with [unbalanced] engine."  The pilot stated that he secured the engine and performed a forced landing into a soybean field.  The pilot reported that the soybean plants wrapped around the main landing gear, causing the airplane to nose over.

A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector performed an onsite inspection of the airplane and engine.  The inspector reported that the number four connecting rod had fractured.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N52551](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N52551), registered now, S/N 75-1707, built 1942 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Boeing A75N1
- Registry model: [Boeing A75N1(PT17)](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-a75n1-pt17) (registry code 1380134) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney R-985 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r-985-series) (registry code 52008, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 75-1707
- Airframe hours: 2273
- Engines: Continental W670-6N 220 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Aerobatic
- Last inspection: Annual, August 1, 2005, 15 hours before
- Departed: GBG, Galesburg, IL
- Destination: 3LF, Litchfield, IL

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 67; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review July 1, 2005; seat: rear; flight hours: 2,800 total, 250 in this make and model, 25 in the last 90 days, 18 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 63 °F
- Altimeter: 30.22 inHg
- Observed at: MQB, 17 nm away

## 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 20050907026049A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050907026049A), Sep 7, 2005: Boeing A75N1, Ellisville, IL, Substantial damage. (-23) While in cruise flight, the engine lost power and developed a strong vibration. A forced landing into a soybean field was performed. The aircraft flipped…

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.

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