# NTSB ERA17LA069: Beech A36, N69286, Shoreham, NY, December 11, 2016 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 11, 2016, 13:00 local (18:00 UTC) - Place: Shoreham, NY - Coordinates: 40.956943, -72.908607 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.9569&lon=-72.9086&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Powerplant sys/comp malf/fail](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 20, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA, Continental Motors - NTSB case key (mKey): 94508 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA17LA069 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/94508/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94508 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA17LA069 ## Probable cause A fatigue crack of the crankshaft at the No. 4 main bearing journal. ## 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 · Fatigue/wear/corrosion (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech A36, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058520/cases.md?model=1151604), [All aircraft, 233 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058520/cases.md) - [Terrain: water](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Beech A36, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021020/cases.md?model=1151604), [All aircraft, 97 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-cruise: Powerplant sys/comp malf/fail](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340) (defining event); cases with it: [Beech A36, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340/sequence.md?model=1151604), [All aircraft, 820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340/sequence.md) - [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341); cases with it: [Beech A36, 56 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=1151604), [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 A36, 47 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=1151604), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Ditching](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/441); cases with it: [Beech A36, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/441/sequence.md?model=1151604), [All aircraft, 186 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/441/sequence.md) ## Analysis While the private pilot was conducting a cross-country flight, the airplane's engine started running roughly when the airplane was about 5,500 ft. The pilot pushed the mixture, propeller, and throttle controls to the full forward position, but the engine continued to run roughly. The pilot then decided to return to the departure airport. During the turn back to the airport, oil covered the windscreen. The pilot declared an emergency and asked air traffic control for radar vectors to a closer airport. The pilot was having trouble controlling the airplane, so he asked for vectors to another airport. Seconds later, he saw parts, which he thought were from the propeller, separate from the airplane. The engine then lost total power, and the pilot ditched the airplane into the water below. Postaccident examination of the engine revealed that the crankshaft was fatigue fractured at the No. 4 main bearing journal. The origin surface area of the fatigue crack was obliterated due to relative movement between the mating fracture faces; thus, the investigation could not determine the cause of the fatigue crack. ## Factual narrative On December 11, 2016, about 1300 eastern standard time, a Beech A36, N69286, was substantially damaged following a total loss of engine power during cruise flight and subsequent ditching in the Long Island Sound, near Shoreham, New York. The private pilot and a passenger were not injured. The airplane departed from Long Island Mac Arthur Airport (ISP), New York, New York and was destined for Westfield-Barnes Regional Airport (BAF), Westfield, Massachusetts. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.According to the pilot, after reaching a cruise altitude of 5,500 feet, the engine started running rough. The pilot then pushed the mixture, propeller, and throttle controls to the full forward position. The engine was still running rough and getting worse. The pilot then decided to turn around and return to ISP. During the turn back to the airport, the pilot noticed oil was covering the windscreen. He then declared an emergency and asked air traffic control for radar vectors to Igor I Sikorsky Memorial Airport (BDR) Bridgeport, Connecticut. The air traffic controller told him to turn north to a heading of 360°, however, the pilot was having trouble keeping the airplane's wings level and did not want to turn that far to the north. The pilot then requested vectors to Calverton Executive Airpark (3C8), Calverton, New York. The controller told the pilot that 3C8 was 7 miles ahead of his current position. At that time, the engine was still producing partial power and the pilot believed he could reach the airport. A few seconds later, he saw parts which he thought were from the propeller, separate from the airplane. The engine then lost total power and the pilot told the controller they would not make the airport and were going to ditch the airplane in the Long Island Sound. The pilot remembered that the airspeed indicator read 80 knots just before contact with the water. Once they ditched in the water, the pilot and passenger opened the door, egressed and swam to a rock that was close by and waited for rescue personnel to arrive. Examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that the right-wing spar was damaged and the engine had several holes in the crankcase. A front section of the crankshaft was fractured and the propeller was not recovered. The engine was sent to the manufacturer's facility for teardown and examination. The teardown revealed that the #4 main bearing journal and the fracture surfaces displayed crack arrest and beach marks consistent with fatigue cracking. The crankcase mating surfaces also revealed signs of fretting at the #1, #2, #3 and #4 main bearing journal case halves. The surface of the #4 bearing journal was obliterated and the #3 main bearing journal showed signs of lock slot elongation. All six connecting rods displayed signatures of lubrication distress.Significant amounts of metal consistent with bearing material and crankcase debris were recovered from the oil sump and observed on the oil pickup tube screen. The through bolt breakaway torque values observed during the disassembly exam were low. The crankshaft was forwarded to the NTSB Material Laboratory in Washington D.C. for examination. A bench binocular microscope examination of the fracture face revealed crack arrest marks typical of fatigue cracking. Scanning electron microscope examination of the fracture face revealed the origin of the fatigue crack contained mechanical damage from relative movement between the mating fracture faces that obliterated the fine fatigue crack origin features. According to FAA and aircraft maintenance records, the airplane was originally issued an airworthiness certificate on February 18, 1984, and registered to the owner on October 9, 2014. It was powered by a Continental IO-550-B1A engine. According to maintenance records, the most recent annual inspection was conducted on June 10, 2016, with a recorded time in service of 1,648.3 hours. The engine had 6 new cylinders installed on May 21, 2012, and had accumulated 163.8 hours of service at the time of inspection. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N69286](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N69286-2017-04-24), registration cancelled 2017-04-24, S/N E-2152, built 1984 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BEECH A36 (UNDESIGNAT) - Registry model: [Beech A36](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-a36) (registry code 1151604) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: E-2152 - Year built: 1984 - Airframe hours: 1650 - Engines: Continental 550 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 10, 2016, 50 hours before - Departed: ISP, NEW YORK, NY - Destination: BAF, WESTFIELD/SPRINGFIELD, MA - Equipment: Stall warning system, ADS-B, Onboard weather, Electronic primary flight display, Angle of attack indicator, Electronic multifunction display, Auto-pilot, Electronic flight bag or handheld device ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 48; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review October 16, 2016; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 700 total, 250 in this make and model, 31.6 in the last 90 days, 1.1 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 160° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 14,000 ft broken - Temperature: 34 °F, dew point 18 °F - Altimeter: 30.45 inHg - Observed at: KISP, 13 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 20161211025069A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20161211025069A), Dec 11, 2016: Beech A36, Shorham, NY, Substantial damage. On December 11,2016 a Beech A35 (N69286) departed from isp and was destined for baf. While over the long island sound, the pilot declaired an emergency due to… ## Docket (9 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 4, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94508. 30.9 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40477613&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Memorandum for Record – Telephone Interview, Pilot (item 2, .PDF, 229 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40477614&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%20%E2%80%93%20Telephone%20Interview,%20Pilot-Master.PDF - Materials Laboratory Factual Report 17-060 (item 3, .PDF, 549 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40477615&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Materials%20Laboratory%20Factual%20Report%2017-060-Master.PDF - Maintenance Records (item 4, .PDF, 21.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40477616&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Maintenance%20Records-Master.PDF - Crankcase Bolt/Stud Torque Values (item 5, .PDF, 157 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40477617&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Crankcase%20Bolt%2FStud%20Torque%20Values-Master.PDF - Investigative Photos (item 6, .PDF, 3 photos, 527 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40477618&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Investigative%20Photos-Master.PDF - Evidence Control Form (item 7, .PDF, 529 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40477620&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Evidence%20Control%20Form-Master.PDF - Reports from Parties to the Investigation (item 8, .PDF, 3.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40480079&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Reports%20from%20Parties%20to%20the%20Investigation-Master.PDF - Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation (item 9, .PDF, 261 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40477619&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Statement%20of%20Party%20Representatives%20to%20NTSB%20Investigation-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. --- 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.