# NTSB MIA89LA168: Beech A24R, N9700Q, Gulfport, MS, June 4, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: June 4, 1989, 10:43 local (15:43 UTC)
- Place: Gulfport, MS
- Coordinates: 30.379022, -89.099639 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.3790&lon=-89.0996&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 5, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 32445
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA89LA168
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/32445/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA89LA168

## Probable cause

FAILURE OF A #2 CONNECTING ROD ASSEMBLY, WHICH RESULTED IN SEPARATION OF THE #2 CYLINDER AND SUBSEQUENT LOSS OF ENGINE POWER.  CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE: INADEQUATE MAINTENANCE, THE TRANSMISSION (POWER) LINE, AND TREES.

## 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 - normal
  - engine assembly,connecting rod - failure,total (cause)
  - maintenance - inadequate (contributing factor)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- In flight collision with object, landing - flare/touchdown
  - object - wire,transmission (contributing factor)
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

WHILE CRUISING IN VFR CONDS ON AN IFR FLT PLAN, THE ENG FAILED & THE PLT ELECTED TO LAND ON A ROAD. AS HE WAS MAKING AN APCH TO LAND, THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH A POWER LINE & A TREE. AN EXAM OF THE ENG REVEALED THE #2 CONNECTING ROD ASSEMBLY HAD FAILED & THE #2 CYLINDER HAD SUBSEQUENTLY SEPARATED. ACCORDING TO THE ACFT OWNER, THE ACFT HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN INVOLVED IN A SUDDEN ENG STOPPAGE AFTER THE NOSE GEAR HAD COLLAPSED. THE ENG WAS THEN OVERHAULED. AFTER ABOUT ANOTHER 15 HRS OF OPN, THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED AGAIN. SUBSEQUENTLY, A DIE PENETRANT CHECK & RUNOUT OF THE CRANKSHAFT FLANGE WAS MADE. ACCORDING TO THE ENG MANUFACTURER, THE INSTALLED CONNECTING RODS & BEARINGS DID NOT CONFORM TO LYCOMING SVC BULLETING #439, DATED 2/17/79. THE ACFT HAD BEEN OPERATED SOME 200 TO 300 HRS SINCE THE LAST ENG OVERHAUL (FOLLOWING THE 1ST GEAR COLLAPSE).

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9700Q](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9700Q-1991-10-01), registration cancelled 1991-10-01, S/N MC59 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH A24R
- Registry model: [Beech A24R](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-a24r) (registry code 1151252) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: MC-59
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-A1B 200 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Capital City Air Service, Inc.
- Registered owner: Capitol City Air Service, Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility
- Departed: PNS, PENSACOLA, FL
- Destination: BTR, BATON ROUGE, LA
- Flight plan: IFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 26; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 451 total, 31 in this make and model, 340 as pilot in command, 57 in the last 90 days, 25 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 160° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 72 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: GPT, 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 19890604064989A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890604064989A), Jun 4, 1989: Beech A24R, Gulfport, MS, Substantial damage. Landing on a road, engine failed. Struck powerline on road. Connecting rod failure. Bogus aircraft parts used.

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.

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