- Date
- June 2, 1996, 11:40 local (18:40 UTC)
- Place
- Sonora, CA
- Injuries
- 2 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N214MSBeech A36TC
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report September 5, 1997
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19960602012269A
- Case key
- 29457
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
failure of the number 1 connecting rod due to oil starvation caused by inadequate bearing crush.
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.
Analysis
The flight was level at 17,500 feet msl when 40 minutes into the flight the engine began to run extremely rough. This lasted for about 10 to 15 seconds when the engine abruptly stopped. Postaccident examination of the engine revealed that the number 1 connecting rod failed causing a catastrophic failure of the engine. Subsequent examination of the engine revealed that the number 1 main bearing oil supply hole had been blocked from supplying oil to the number 1 connecting rod. Examination of the number 1 main bearing halves revealed that there were operational movements indicated on a bearing half. Evidence was found to indicate the half had fractured/disintegrated and blocked the oil supply hole. The number 1 connecting rod then failed from oil starvation.
Factual narrative
On June 2, 1996, about 1140 hours Pacific daylight time a Beech A36TC, N214MS, was substantially damaged during a forced landing near Sonora, California. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal cross-country flight and no flight plan was filed. The pilot and passenger received minor injuries. The flight originated at Reno, Nevada, on the day of the accident destined for Lancaster, California.
The pilot reported that they were in level flight at 17,500 feet msl. About 40 minutes into the flight the engine began to run extremely rough. This lasted for about 10 to 15 seconds when the engine abruptly stopped.
A postaccident examination of the engine revealed that the number 1 connecting rod failed at the crankshaft. The failed rod components/pieces were sent to the Safety Board Materials Laboratory Division for examination. According to the examination of the submitted pieces, they had all been subjected to extensive post-separation mechanical and heat damage. Examination of the limited undamaged portions of the fractures revealed features typical of over stress separation.
The entire engine was shipped to the manufacturer's facility at Mobile, Alabama. The engine was subjected to additional analysis under FAA oversight. According to the report, the number 1 main bearing oil supply hole had been blocked from supplying oil to the number 1 connecting rod. The rod failed due to oil starvation. One half of the number 1 main bearing revealed evidence of operational movement leading to a fracture/disintegration of the bearing half.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N214MS
- Reported as
- Beech A36TC
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- EA-64
- Engine
- Continental TSIO-520-UB, 300 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Murphy Safety Switch Of Calif.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- RNO · Reno, NV
- Destination
- WJF · Lancaster, CA
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 44
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 3,465 total · 1,300 in this make and model · 3,335 as pilot in command · 14 in the last 90 days · 7 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Visibility
- 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 93 °F, dew point 57 °F
- Observed at
- STK
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.