# NTSB CHI85FET03: Vanbenthuysen John Bede BD-5B, N23105, Elkhart, IN, September 14, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Final report
- Date: September 14, 1985, 09:40 local (14:40 UTC)
- Place: Elkhart, IN
- Location: 41.6952° N, 85.9554° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Elkhart, IN, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.6952&lon=-85.9554&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 12894
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI85FET03
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/12894/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI85FET03

## 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, takeoff - initial climb
  - engine assembly - overtemperature (cause)
- Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb
  - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall - uncontrolled, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE ACFT ROLLED INVERTED & COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND AFTER AN OVERTEMPERATURE READING, AN RPM LOSS AND LOSS OF AIRSPEED WERE RECOGNIZED BY THE PLT DURING THE RECORDING OF THE TAKEOFF. THE PLT HAD A PORTABLE RECORDER ON BOARD AND WAS USING IT DURING THE TAKEOFF. HE SAID THE 195 DEGREE TEMPERATURE WAS 'NO BIG DEAL' BUT THEN NOTED A DROP IN AIRSPEED AND STOPPED TALKING. THE RECORDER KETP OPERATING UNTIL THE CRASH AND RECORDED AN RPM REDUCTION TO NEARLY IDLE. POST ACC EXAM NOTED SCORING & BLUEING OF #1 & 2 CYLINDER WALLS INDICATING OVERHEATING & POSSIBLE SEIZURE OF THE ENG. FUEL WAS FOUND IN THE ENG & FUEL LINES.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N23105 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: VANBENTHUYSEN JOHN BEDE BD-5B
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 1950
- Airframe hours: 25
- Engines: OMC 75ER79 70 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: John D. Vanbenthuysen
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Unknown, July 16, 1985, 5 hours before

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 54; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; toxicology performed; flight hours: 183 total, 3 in this make and model, 144 as pilot in command, 3 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 100° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 45 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: SBN, 15 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 19850914044829A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850914044829A), Sep 14, 1985: Amtrbd BEDEBD5B, Elkhart, IN, Destroyed. Lost power after takeoff and rolled contacting ground inverted. Probable seizure of engine due to overheating.

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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