- Date
- June 27, 1995, 06:30 local (10:30 UTC)
- Place
- Titusville, FL
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N72016Beech A36
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Dawn
- Status
- Completed · report June 22, 1996
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19950627020709A
- Case key
- 37788
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 No. 6 cylinder barrel due to corrosion fatigue, which resulted in a loss of power. A factor relating to the accident was: the lack of suitable terrain for an emergency landing.
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
While in cruise, the engine began running rough, and the pilot noted a loss of oil pressure. Shortly thereafter, he observed flames and oil coming from the engine area. He shut the engine down and executed a forced landing to a beach. During the landing, the airplane struck a sand dune. Examination of the engine revealed the No. 6 cylinder barrel had failed due to corrosion fatigue.
Factual narrative
On June 27, 1995, about 0630 eastern daylight time, N72016, a Beech A-36 operated by Harris Berman, crashed on the beach near Titusville, Florida, while on a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The airplane was substantially damaged and the pilot reported no injuries. The flight originated from Palm Beach, Florida, about 1 hour earlier.
The pilot noted a loss of oil pressure and engine roughness. He then saw oil on the airplane and sparks coming from the engine. He then shut down the engine and executed a forced landing to the beach. During the landing the airplane hit a sand dune. Initial examination of the engine revealed the No. 6 cylinder barrel was failed circumferentially.
The cylinder, piston, and connecting rod was removed from the airplane and shipped to the NTSB laboratory for examination. Examination of the cylinder revealed that the cylinder exhibited severe corrosion pitting on the cylinder barrel between the first and second cooling fins. Two fatigue origins were identified with the corrosion pits. Signatures consistent with progressive fatigue were observed through the barrel. All other failures noted were consistent with overload.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N72016
- Reported as
- Beech A36
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- E-2172
- Airframe hours
- 1,400
- Engine
- Continental IO-550-B, 300 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Harris Berman
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · November 26, 1994 · 100 hours before
- Departed
- PBI · Palm Beach, FL
- Destination
- CHS · Charleston, SC
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 55
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 1,600 total · 100 in this make and model · 1,550 as pilot in command · 30 in the last 90 days · 10 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Dawn
- Wind
- 220° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 8 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 25,000 ft broken
- Temperature
- 73 °F, dew point 72 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- DAB, 25 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.