# NTSB FTW87IA097: Beech 58, N6681L, Bridgeport, TX, April 10, 1987

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: April 10, 1987, 10:00 local (15:00 UTC)
- Place: Bridgeport, TX
- Location: 33.2136° N, 97.7752° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Bridgeport, TX, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.2136&lon=-97.7752&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report July 10, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 22283
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW87IA097
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/22283/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW87IA097

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power(total) - mech failure/malf, cruise - normal
  - engine assembly,cylinder - failure,total (cause)
  - engine assembly,cylinder - separation (cause)
- Fire, cruise - normal
  - fluid,oil - leak (cause)
  - precautionary landing - performed

## Analysis

DURING CRUISE FLIGHT, THE AIRCRAFT'S RIGHT ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE. THE PILOT SHUTDOWN THE ENGINE AND FEATHERED THE PROP, EXTINGUISHING THE FIRE. THE PILOT DECLARED AN EMERGENCY WITH ATC AND LANDED SAFELY AT AN ALTERNATE AIRPORT, WITH ONLY MINOR DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE. ON SCENE INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE #4 CYLINDER HEAD HAD COME LOOSE IN FLIGHT, FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6681L](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6681L), registered now, S/N TH-1088, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH 58
- Registry model: [Beech 58](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-58) (registry code 1152740) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: TH-1088
- Airframe hours: 1435
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520-CB 285 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Minor damage
- Fire: In-Flight
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Registered owner: James R. Dry Jr.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, April 3, 1987, 6 hours before
- Departed: CRP, CORPUS CHRISTI, TX
- Destination: OUN, NORMAN, OK
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: 1F9, Bridgeport Muni, runway 35, 3,500 × 60 ft, concrete

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 56; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 3,503 total, 1,154 in this make and model, 3,360 as pilot in command, 39 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Lowest ceiling: none

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Incident 19870410069839I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870410069839I), Apr 10, 1987: Beech 58, Bridgeport, TX, Minor damage. The right engine caught fire when NR4 cylinder came loose. Aircraft landed safely. Suspect improper torquing.

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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