# NTSB ERA14LA052: Beech V35, N5655D, Trussville, AL, November 28, 2013

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: November 28, 2013, 09:50 local (15:50 UTC)
- Place: Trussville, AL
- Coordinates: 33.630519, -86.590324 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.6305&lon=-86.5903&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Approach: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 3 minor
- Status: Completed, report September 29, 2014
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: Bonanza Baron Pilot Training, FAA/FSDO, Continental Motors Inc
- NTSB case key (mKey): 88486
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA14LA052
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/88486/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=88486
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA14LA052

## Probable cause

The failure of the No. 2 connecting rod due to oil starvation, which resulted in a total loss of engine power.

## 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 V35, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058520/cases.md?model=1151538), [All aircraft, 233 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058520/cases.md)
- [Maintenance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062000): Personnel issues › Task performance · Maintenance personnel; cases with it: [Beech V35, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062000/cases.md?model=1151538), [All aircraft, 143 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062000/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Approach: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Beech V35, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=1151538), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md)
- [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Beech V35, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=1151538), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md)
- [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Beech V35, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=1151538), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that, during approach, he heard a "loud pop" and that the engine then lost total power. The airplane was too far away to glide to the destination airport, so the pilot chose to perform a forced landing to a field, which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage. Subsequent teardown examination of the engine revealed evidence of oil starvation at the No. 2 connecting rod, which resulted in its separation from the crankshaft and its subsequent puncturing of a hole in the crankcase. The oil tube from the main bearing to the No. 2 connecting rod was found clear and unrestricted. At some point during the life of the engine, the interior of the rocker covers had been coated with an unapproved material. The coating material had been flaking off during operation and had been cleaned from two of six of the rocker covers. The four remaining covers still contained the coating material, but it could not be determined if the material caused the oil restriction because none of the material was found in any of the oil or oil passages. However, it is possible that any restricting material dislodged and escaped during the engine failure.

## Factual narrative

On November 28, 2013, about 0950 central standard time, a Beech V35, N5655D, operated by a private individual, was substantially damaged during a forced landing to a field in Trussville, Alabama, following a total loss of engine power while on approach to Birmingham International Airport (BHM), Birmingham, Alabama. The airline transport pilot and two passengers received minor injuries. The personal flight was conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and an instrument flight rules flight plan was filed for the planned flight to BHM. The flight departed Norfolk International Airport (ORF), Norfolk, Virginia, about 0620. The pilot reported that the departure from ORF and cruise flight were uneventful. The airplane was descending toward BHM through 5,400 feet mean sea level (msl), from 6,500 feet msl, when he heard a loud bang and the engine lost all power. The airplane was too far from BHM to glide there and the pilot elected to perform a forced landing in a field. According to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, during the landing, the airplane collided with a fence and farm equipment, which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage. Initial examination of the engine revealed a hole in the top of the engine case. The airplane was equipped with a Continental Motors IO-550B, 300-horsepower engine. The engine was manufactured in 1994 and overhauled in 2004, after accumulating 1,457 hours of operation. The airplane's most recent annual inspection was completed on August 15, 2013. At that time, the engine had accumulated 1,195 hours since overhaul. The airplane flew about 62 hours from the time of the last annual inspection, until the accident. The engine was subsequently retained and forwarded to the manufacturer's facility for a teardown examination under the supervision of an FAA inspector. The examination revealed evidence of oil starvation at the No. 2 connecting rod, which resulted in its separation from the crankshaft. During the separation, the No. 2 connecting rod punctured a hole in the engine crankcase. The oil tube from the main bearing to the No. 2 connecting rod was clear and unrestricted at the time of inspection. Additionally, the remaining connecting rods did not exhibit signs of oil starvation. Further examination revealed that at some point during the life of the engine, the interior of the rocker covers had been coated with an unapproved material. The coating material had been flaking off during operation and had been cleaned from two of six the rocker covers. The remaining covers still contained the material.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5655D](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5655D-2016-12-19), registration cancelled 2016-12-19, S/N D-8406, built 1967 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH V35
- Registry model: [Beech V35](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-v35) (registry code 1151538) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: D-8406
- Year built: 1967
- Airframe hours: 7080
- Engines: Continental IO-550 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Kent Ewing
- Registered owner: N5655d LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, August 15, 2013, 52 hours before
- Departed: ORF, Norfolk, VA
- Destination: BHM, Birmingham, AL
- Flight plan: IFR
- Equipment: Stall warning system

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 70; injuries: minor; commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 26, 2013; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 16,500 total, 3,500 in this make and model, 16,000 as pilot in command, 139 in the last 90 days, 53 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 36 °F, dew point 16 °F
- Altimeter: 30.47 inHg
- Observed at: BHM, 9 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 20131128023029A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20131128023029A), Nov 28, 2013: Beech V35, Trussville, AL, Destroyed. Aircraft was enroute from (orf) to (bhm) with 3 passengers on board during decent passing through 5000FT the aircrafts engine made a loud pop, oil appeared on…

## Other investigations on N5655D (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 NYC69F0229](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC69F0229), Oct 22, 1968: Beech V35 (N5655D), Albany, NY, substantial damage

## Docket (8 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 13, 2014, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=88486. 14.0 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40413276&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- Engine Manufacturer Report of Engine Examination (item 2, .PDF, 9.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40413277&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Engine%20Manufacturer%20Report%20of%20Engine%20Examination-Redacted.PDF
- Excerpts From Engine Logbook (item 3, .PDF, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40413278&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Excerpts%20From%20Engine%20Logbook-Redacted.PDF
- Release of Aircraft Wreckage (item 4, .PDF, 82 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40413279&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Release%20of%20Aircraft%20Wreckage-Master.PDF
- Evidence Control Form (item 5, .PDF, 72 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40413280&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Evidence%20Control%20Form-Master.PDF
- tatement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation (item 6, .PDF, 546 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40413281&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=tatement%20of%20Party%20Representatives%20to%20NTSB%20Investigation-Redacted.PDF
- Photo 1- Main Wreckage (Photo Courtesy of FAA) (item 7, .PDF, 495 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40413282&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201-%20Main%20Wreckage%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20FAA)%0D%0A-Master.PDF
- Photo 2 – Engine (Photo Courtesy of FAA) (item 8, .PDF, 356 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40413283&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%20%E2%80%93%20Engine%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20FAA)%0D%0A-Master.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.

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