# NTSB FTW97LA146: Beech G33, N166B, Bixby, OK, March 28, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 28, 1997, 09:09 local (15:09 UTC) - Place: Bixby, OK - Coordinates: 35.940845, -95.869659 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.9408&lon=-95.8697&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 30, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 20187 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW97LA146 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/20187/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW97LA146 ## Probable cause failure of a number two connecting rod bolt, possibly from being either over-torqued or under-torqued during installation, and failure of the pilot to see-and-avoid the transmission line, while performing a forced landing. ## 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 - engine assembly,connecting rod bolt - failure,total (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - In flight collision with object, emergency descent/landing - object - wire,transmission - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, emergency landing - gear extension - delayed ## Analysis According to the pilot, he had just leveled off at 7,500 feet on a cross-country flight to Little Rock, Arkansas, when the engine started to 'shake violently.' The pilot attempted to return to his departure point, but the engine failed totally. The pilot performed a forced landing, but the airplane impacted a wire on final approach, which subsequently delayed the gear extension, causing the airplane to land with its gear in transit. Postcrash examination of the engine revealed that the number two rod bolt head was in 'relatively undamaged condition.' An FAA Inspector assigned to the accident stated that he believed that the rod bolt was 'either over torqued or under torqued during engine assembly which led to the bolt failure and the number two rod failure well before TBO.' According to the airplane's engine logbook and the pilot's flight log book, the engine had run approximately 604 hours, since being overhauled in August of 1991. ## Factual narrative On March 28, 1997, approximately 0909 central standard time, a Beech G33 airplane, N166B, was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a loss of engine power near Bixby, Oklahoma. The commercial pilot and his passenger were not injured. The airplane was owned and operated by the pilot under Title 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal cross country flight which originated from Richard Lloyd Jones Jr. Airport in Tulsa, Oklahoma, approximately 15 minutes before the accident. No flight plan had been filed. The pilot reported to the Investigator-In-Charge (IIC) that he had just leveled off at 7,500 feet when the engine started to "shake violently." The pilot reversed the airplane's course to fly back to the point of departure when the engine "stopped," and oil started to appear on the windshield. A forced landing was performed in an open field. The pilot report to the IIC that on short final, the airplane hit a transmission wire and he subsequently was delayed in lowering the landing gear. The airplane landed with the landing gear in transition. The passenger reported that the airplane's impact with the ground was "severe," and the "pilot did a good job bringing the airplane to a halt." The fuselage, engine mount, and fire wall were twisted; and, the airframe structure around all three landing gear was damaged. Postcrash examination of the engine revealed a hole in the engine case. Several weeks after the accident, the engine was torn down. The FAA Inspector assigned to this accident reported to the IIC that the rod bolt head to the number two cylinder was found on the bottom of the engine case in "relatively undamaged condition." He further stated that he believed that the rod bolt was "either over torqued or under torqued during engine assembly which led to the bolt failure and the number two rod failure well before TBO." According to the airplane's engine logbook and the pilot's flight logbook, the engine had run approximately 604 hours since being overhauled in August of 1991. The IIC had three telephone conversations with the pilot who willingly provided information. The pilot stated that he had the NTSB's Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (6120.1/2) form "right on my desk." He further stated that he would "mail it in a couple of days." The IIC never received the 6120.1/2 from the pilot. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N166B](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N166B), registered now, S/N CD-1293, built 1972 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Beech G33 - Registry model: [Beech G33](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-g33) (registry code 1151435) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental I0-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-i0-470-series) (registry code 17027, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: CD-1293 - Airframe hours: 4132 - Engines: Continental IO-470 260 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: David H. Laughrey - Registered owner: Ml Air, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Annual, June 27, 1996, 72 hours before - Departed: RVS, TULSA, OK - Destination: LIT, LITTLE ROCK, AR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 52; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, unknown; seat: left; flight hours: 899 total, 72 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 320° at 14 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 39 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: TUL, 10 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 19970328003929A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970328003929A), Mar 28, 1997: Beech G33, Tulsa, OK, Substantial damage. On March 28, 1997, approximately 0909 central standard time, a Beech G33 airplane, N166B, was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a loss of… ## Other investigations on N166B (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 MKC76DCQ66](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC76DCQ66), Jul 11, 1976: Beech G33 (N166B), Eureka, KS, substantial damage 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.