# NTSB IAD00LA062: Boeing Stearman E75-N1, N75647, Atwater, OH, July 18, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 18, 2000, 16:45 local (20:45 UTC) - Place: Atwater, OH - Coordinates: 41.029659, -81.179855 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.0297&lon=-81.1799&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 28, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 49751 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=IAD00LA062 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/49751/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD00LA062 ## Probable cause Loss of total engine power due to a fractured crankshaft. ## 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,crankshaft - fractured (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - In flight collision with object, emergency landing - object - tree(s) ## Analysis The pilot departed his private airstrip for a pleasure flight. He leveled the airplane off at 2,500 feet and set the engine power to cruise RPM. About 15 minutes into the flight, the pilot felt a vibration in the engine and decided to return to his airstrip. As the airplane turned back to the airstrip, the vibrations got worse and engine RPM decreased. The pilot elected to land at closer airstrip, but as he lined up with the airport the engine stopped producing power. The pilot was unable to make the airport, landed short, and collided with trees. Examination of the engine revealed a fractured crankshaft. The total time on the crankshaft was not determined. This was the first flight after the metal propeller was removed and the wooden propeller was installed. ## Factual narrative On July 18, 2000, approximately 1645 Eastern Daylight Time, a Boeing Stearman E75-N1, N75647, was substantially damaged when it collided with trees during a forced landing near Atwater, Ohio. The certificated airline transport pilot/owner and passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. In a written statement, the pilot said: "Took off from my private strip located at Atwater, Ohio on a pleasure flight. The time was 4:30 PM. Departed to the west, turning to the north. Leveled at 2,500 msl. A short time at level flight cruise RPM, felt vibration from the engine, made left turn back toward the departure airport. Notified passenger that a forced landing was possible. Vibration got much worse with loss of RPM. Told passenger we would land at Gay field that was ahead and to the left. At this time the engine froze, stopping the prop. Set up to land in a corn field straight ahead with a line of trees on the approach end. Aircraft hit the trees and stopped nose down. Instructed passenger too shut off ELT, magnetos, and battery. We then exited the aircraft." The passenger was the pilot's son. In a written statement, he said: "We took off and climbed to the north. We were about 2,500 feet MSL, just south of Rootstown, OH. About 15 minutes into the flight, the pilot mentioned that he felt a slight vibration. I noticed this vibration and agreed that we should go back and check it out. As we were returning to the airport the vibration got worse and the engine RPM settled to about 1500 RPM. This is when the pilot mentioned that we should go to Gay's airport because of its close proximity. This seemed like a good idea to me. The airplane was in a good position for Gay's airport, when the engine stopped with a clunk. With no power the airplane would not make it to Gay's. The pilot made a straight line to a good long cornfield, but we just could not get over the trees at the end of the field. With the airplane stopped in the tree, I shut off the battery and the mag switch. I was in the back seat where the switches are located. We both got out of the plane." A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector performed an on-scene examination on July 18, 2000. According to the inspector, the nose of the airplane was pointed into the ground with the tail partially hung in the trees. All four wings were damaged. The airplane was recovered and the engine was examined on July 26, 2000, under the supervision of the FAA. In a written statement, an FAA inspector said: "The teardown of the engine was difficult due to the massive internal failure of the engine. On further investigation of the engine it was determined that the crankshaft had a complete break in the first throw of the shaft. There appeared to be no fatigue in the metal of the shaft. It was noted that prior to the accident the metal propeller, a McCauley Model No 41D5926 was removed, and a wood propeller, Model Number W-98AA-66 was installed." This was the first flight after the metal propeller was removed and the wood propeller was installed. The airplane was type certificated (TC) for both a metal and wood propeller. According to the FAA inspector, the wooden propeller was within TC standards and was installed to specifications. The pilot reported that the engine had accrued 313.8 total hours since overhaul, and 6.5 hours since the last annual inspection on April 4, 2000. The pilot did not know how much time was on the crankshaft at the time of the accident. The pilot reported 16,387 total flight hours, of which 1,260 hours were in make and model airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N75647](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N75647), registered now, S/N 75-8724, built 1941 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Boeing Stearman E75-N1 - Registry model: [Boeing E75N1](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-e75n1) (registry code 1380154) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental W670 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-w670-series) (registry code 17018, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 75-8724 - Airframe hours: 3986 - Engines: Continental W 670-6A 220 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: David J. Stroup - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 4, 2000, 6 hours before - Departed: NONE, OH ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 77; airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: rear; flight hours: 16,387 total, 1,260 in this make and model, 16,150 as pilot in command, 30 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 350° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 3,600 ft broken - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: AKN, 12 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 20000718010439A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000718010439A), Jul 18, 2000: Boeing E75N1, Ravenna, OH, No damage. (-23) On July 18, 2000, shortly after take off, pilot noticed a vibration from the engine, and then the engine stopped. Pilot tried to land in a corn field and… 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.