# NTSB IAD02LA087: Boeing Stearman E75L300, N65BH, Fostoria, OH, August 17, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 17, 2002, 12:30 local (16:30 UTC) - Place: Fostoria, OH - Coordinates: 41.190555, -83.394447 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.1906&lon=-83.3944&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 2 serious - Status: Completed, report August 26, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 55502 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=IAD02LA087 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/55502/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD02LA087 ## Probable cause A missing flight control sealed bearing, which resulted in a loss of control in flight. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, takeoff - initial climb - flt control syst,aileron control bearing - missing (cause) - flt control syst,elevator control bearing - missing (cause) - Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb - aircraft control - restricted - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis After a short field take-off, the airplane began to climb. When it reached the end of the runway, at 100 feet above the ground, it started a 10- to15-degree bank turn to the left. It simultaneously pitched up, slowed down and stalled, and the left wing and nose pitched down toward the ground. The wings then began to level, and the airplane appeared to be recovering from the dive when it struck the ground in a flat attitude. Post-accident examination revealed that the sealed bearing that connected the front seat control column to the aileron/elevator push-pull tube was missing. The airplane had recently undergone an annual maintenance inspection. ## Factual narrative On August 17, 2002, at 1230 eastern daylight time, a Boeing Stearman E75L300, N65BH, was substantially damaged when it collided with terrain shortly after takeoff from Fostoria Metropolitan Airport (FZI), Fostoria, Ohio. The certificated airline transport pilot and his passenger were seriously injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the local personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. In a written statement, the pilot reported that the purpose of the flight was to give a friend an airplane ride. After performing a short field takeoff, the airplane began to climb. As the airplane reached the end of the runway "something went wrong," and that was last part of the flight he remembered. He also stated that there were no mechanical problems with the engine. During an interview with an Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) aviation safety inspector, the pilot said that he was unable to control the airplane. The passenger had no memory of the accident. A witness stated that the airplane made a normal takeoff from runway 27. As the airplane reached the departure end of the runway, it started a 10- to 15-degree bank turn to the left. It simultaneously pitched up and slowed down, then began to "rotate" around the left wing with the nose pointed down toward the ground. "The pilot almost got the wings level and the nose started to come up from the dive when the aircraft struck the ground in pancake effect - bounced and turned to the southwest...." According to a second witness, when the airplane reached the end of the runway, it did not seem to climb well as it began a left turn. The turn got tighter and the nose of the airplane pitched up "extremely high for such a tight and low turn." As the airplane continued to turn back toward the airport, its pitch increased and the witness knew it was in trouble. The airplane then stalled, and the nose immediately dropped down toward the ground. The pilot managed to level the airplane out a little bit, before it hit the ground at an estimated 45-degree angle. When the airplane hit the ground it bounced, pivoted 180 degrees, then hit the ground again in a flat attitude. When the airplane hit the second time, the wings folded. A third witness stated that after the airplane took off, it appeared to climb at an airspeed lower than expected. When the airplane was about 100 feet above ground level, it appeared to stall, and the left wing dipped sharply to the left. The airplane then leveled out and impacted the ground in a flat attitude. Two FAA inspectors performed an examination of the airplane after the accident. According to one of them, the sealed bearing that connected the front seat control column to the aileron/elevator push-pull tube was missing, and never located. Flight control continuity was established for all flight control surfaces, and no mechanical anomalies were noted with the engine. The airplane had undergone an annual maintenance inspection on August 7, 2002, at a total airframe time of 1,530.4 hours. At the time of the accident, the airplane had flown 1.7 hours since the inspection. The pilot held numerous flight certificates, ratings, type ratings, and was also a certified airframe and power plant mechanic. His most recent FAA second class medical was issued on March 25, 2002. The pilot reported a total of 4,997 flight hours, of which, 85 hours were in make and model. Weather reported at Findlay Airport (FND), Findlay, Ohio, 16 nautical miles southwest of Fostoria Airport, included winds from 220 degrees at 11 knots, visibility 10 statute miles, scattered clouds at 3,000 feet, overcast clouds at 3,800 feet, temperature 82 degrees F, and dewpoint 68 degrees F. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N65BH](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N65BH), registered now, S/N 75-6865 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Boeing Stearman E75L300 - Registry model: [Boeing E75L300](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-e75l300) (registry code 1380153) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming R680E series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-r680e-series) (registry code 41545, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 75-6865 - Airframe hours: 1530.4 - Engines: Lycoming R-680 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Roppe Corporation - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Aerobatic - Last inspection: Annual, August 7, 2002, 1.7 hours before - Departed: FZI, FOSTORIA, OH - Airport: FZI, Fostoria, runway 27, 4,198 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 49; injuries: serious; flight instructor, airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine sea, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review October 12, 2001; seat: rear; flight hours: 4,997 total, 85 in this make and model, 4,188 as pilot in command, 52 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 220° at 11 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 3,800 ft overcast - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 68 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg - Observed at: FDY, 16 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 20020817034269A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020817034269A), Aug 17, 2002: Boeing E75, Fostoria, OH, Substantial damage. (-23) [privacy data omitted] 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.