# NTSB MIA04LA099: North American T-28C, N28BZ, Deland, FL, June 20, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 20, 2004, 10:50 local (14:50 UTC) - Place: Deland, FL - Coordinates: 29.066944, -81.283889 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.0669&lon=-81.2839&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 13, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 59616 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA04LA099 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/59616/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA04LA099 ## Probable cause A loss of engine power due to an engine master rod bearing failure for undetermined reasons, resulting in damage to the airplane during the subsequent 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, takeoff - initial climb - engine assembly,master rod - failure - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - In flight collision with terrain/water, emergency landing - terrain condition - ditch ## Analysis The pilot stated that during a slow climb after takeoff, a lighted chip light in the airplane's cockpit illuminated. Shortly thereafter, he said he felt the first engine shudder/backfire, and he then made a "Mayday" call, and proceeded to the nearest airport to land. Along the way, the pilot said he increased power in an attempt to ensure he would reach the airport, and initially felt the airplane accelerate, but about 30 seconds later, in addition to the illuminated chip light and vibration associated with the engine, suddenly there was a severe rumble again, followed by the engine operating distinctively rough. He noted little puffs of black smoke, coming out of the stacks around the fuselage, and since there was a heavy forested area ahead, he said he turned the airplane toward a field, to affect a landing. The approach and landing flare/touchdown were uneventful, but during the landing rollout the airplane impacted a ditch, and incurred substantial damage. According to the FAA inspector who responded to the accident, an engine master rod bearing failed. ## Factual narrative On June 20, 2004, about 1050 eastern daylight time, a North American T-28C, N28BZ, registered to and operated by a private individual, as a Title 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, made a forced landing to a field in the area of Deland, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a visual flight rules flight plan was filed. The pilot and one passenger were not injured, and the airplane incurred substantial damage. The flight had originated from New Smyrna Beach, Florida, a few minutes before the accident. The pilot stated that he had just departed from New Smyrna Beach Municipal Airport, New Smyrna Beach, Florida, and during a slow climb, at an altitude of about 5,000 feet, the pilot-rated passenger in the back seat alerted him to a flickering chip light. According to the pilot, the passenger said the light flickered dimly for about a second and then illuminated full bright. The pilot said that he then confirmed a lighted chip light on his panel as well, and shortly thereafter felt the first engine shudder/backfire. He then made a "Mayday" call, and proceeded to the nearest airport, Deland Municipal Airport, Deland, Florida, to affect a landing. Along the way, the pilot said he increased power in an attempt to ensure he would reach the airport, and initially felt the airplane accelerate, but about 30 seconds later, in addition to the illuminated chip light and vibration in the engine, suddenly there was a severe rumble again, followed by the engine operating distinctively rough. He noted little puffs of black smoke, coming out of the stacks around the fuselage, and since there was a heavy forested area ahead, turned the airplane toward a field to the east, to affect a landing. As he prepared to land, the pilot said he opened the canopy, secured the fuel flow, placed the propeller control in high pitch setting to minimize drag, secured battery power, and established a glide. He said the approach and landing flare/touchdown were uneventful, but during the landing rollout the airplane impacted a ditch, and incurred substantial damage. According to the FAA inspector who responded to the accident, an engine master rod bearing failed. The inspector further stated that there were metal fragments throughout the oil, and the degree of damage and metal fragments made it difficult to determine what may precipitated the bearing failure. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N28BZ](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N28BZ-2005-03-29), registration cancelled 2005-03-29, S/N 140637, built 1958 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: North American T-28C - Registry model: [North American T-28C](https://openairdocs.org/model/north-american-t-28c) (registry code 6402507) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Wright R-1820 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/wright-r-1820-series) (registry code 67020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 140637 - Airframe hours: 9034 - Engines: Curtis Wright R1820-86B 1420 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Daniel H. Serrato MD - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, June 1, 2004, 1 hours before - Departed: EVB, New Smyrna Beac, FL - Destination: CSG, Columbus, GA - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: EVB, New Smyrna Beach ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 50; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2; last flight review January 1, 2003; seat: front; flight hours: 800 total, 0 in this make and model, 700 as pilot in command, 40 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 250° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 4,000 ft broken - Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 75 °F - Altimeter: 30.01 inHg - Observed at: DAB ## 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 20040620017459A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040620017459A), Jun 20, 2004: Namer T28C, New Smyrnabeach, FL, Destroyed. (-23) Engine failure shortly after takeoff resulted in off airport landing. Aircraft struck ditch in field which knocked out landing gear. Engine separated… 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.