- Date
- February 3, 1985, 14:15 local (19:15 UTC)
- Place
- Sheffield, TX
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N5821XBeech C-35
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Case key
- 21671
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Loss of engine power(total) - mech failure/malf
Engine assembly - fatigueCause
Engine assembly,connecting rod - binding(mechanical)Cause
Engine assembly,bearing - binding(mechanical)Cause
Engine assembly,crankshaft - fatigueCause
Maintenance,replacement - improperCause
Maintenance,major repair - improperCause
Forced landing
On ground/water collision with object
Analysis
The plt stated the eng failed completely during cruise. The crankshaft was found separated during the eng teardown, with the rod and bearings also separated. Metallurgical testing revealed fractures to be from fatigue. Eng maintenance had been improperly accomplished during replacement of pistons and rod components. Rods had not been properly aligned, thus allowing bearings and caps to rub and groove the crankshaft, causing the failure point.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N5821X
- Reported as
- Beech C-35
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- D-2773
- Engine
- Continental E-225-8, 225 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- James E. Gerstemeier
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · October 11, 1984 · 65 hours before
- Departed
- AUS · Austin, TX
- Destination
- ELP · El Paso, TX
- Flight plan
- IFR
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 48
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 1,774 total · 1,000 in this make and model · 1,609 as pilot in command · 52 in the last 90 days · 6 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Visibility
- 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None