# NTSB CHI06LA211: Piper J3C-65, N7012H, New Market, MN, July 24, 2006 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 23, 2006, 20:15 local (Jul 24, 2006, 01:15 UTC) - Place: New Market, MN - Coordinates: 44.570922, -93.339782 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.5709&lon=-93.3398&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report January 31, 2008 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration, Teledyne Continental Motors - NTSB case key (mKey): 64233 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI06LA211 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/64233/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI06LA211 ## Probable cause A loss of engine power due to the fatigue fracture of the crankshaft and camshaft gear teeth during cruise flight and the unsuitable landing area encountered by the pilot during the forced landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, cruise - engine assembly,gear - fatigue (cause) - engine assembly,gear - fatigue (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - In flight collision with terrain/water, emergency landing - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - encountered, pilot in command (cause) - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis The floatplane impacted terrain during a forced landing following a loss of engine power during cruise. Examination of the engine revealed that several of the crankshaft and camshaft gear teeth were broken off. The surface separations of the teeth exhibited features consistent with fatigue. ## Factual narrative On July 23, 2006, at 2015 central daylight time, a Piper J3C-65 floatplane, N7012H, impacted terrain during a forced landing near New Market, Minnesota. The pilot reported that the airplane experienced a loss of engine power during cruise flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight was not operating on a flight plan. The pilot sustained minor injuries. The local flight originated at 1945 from Prior Lake, Minnesota. Examination of the airplane by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) revealed the fuel aboard was near full. No on-scene anomalies were noted with the airplane. The airplane was powered by a Continental C-90-8, serial number 67129-8-8, engine that received its last major overhaul on May 26, 2004. The last inspection of the engine was an annual inspection dated May 2, 2006, at a time since major overhaul of 179 hours. The engine was shipped to Teledyne Continental Motors, in Mobile, Alabama, where the engine was disassembled and examined under the supervision of the Federal Aviation Administration. The examination revealed that several of the crankshaft and camshaft gear teeth were broken off. The surface separations of the teeth exhibited features consistent with fatigue. The FAA and Teledyne Continental Motors were parties to the investigation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7012H](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7012H), registered now, S/N 20257, built 1946 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper J3C-65 - Registry model: [Piper J3C-65](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-j3c-65) (registry code 7100510) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental A&C65 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-a-c65-series) (registry code 17003, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 20257 - Engines: Continental C-90-8 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Pilot - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 1, 2006 - Departed: Prior Lake, MN ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 54; injuries: minor; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1; last flight review September 1, 2005; seat: rear; flight hours: 13,000 total, 500 in this make and model, 8,000 as pilot in command, 150 in the last 90 days, 50 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 170° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 70 °F - Altimeter: 29.76 inHg - Observed at: LVN, 7 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 20060724015909A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20060724015909A), Jul 24, 2006: Piper J3C65, New Market, MN, Destroyed. (-23) During cruise flight, the pilot [privacy data omitted] stated that the engine stopped after a loud "bang" was heard from the engine. He executed an… 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.