- Date
- November 4, 1995, 15:15 local (20:15 UTC)
- Place
- Wauchula, FL
- Injuries
- 2 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N1535MBoeing E75N1
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report February 14, 1996
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19951104035919A
- Case key
- 37939
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
A total loss of engine power due to worn serrated teeth on the valve timing gear and intermediate camshaft drive gear which prevented the valve train and generator from operating. A factor was the lack of suitable terrain for the forced 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
The pilot was in cruise flight at 1,500 feet AGL when the airplane experienced a total loss of engine power. The pilot made a forced landing to the only available landing area. On landing rollout the airplane collided with a ditch and nosed over. Examination of the engine assembly revealed the serrated teeth on the valve timing gear and the intermediate cam gear were worn, preventing the valve train and generator from operating.
Factual narrative
On November 4, 1995, about 1515 eastern standard time, a Boeing E75N1, N1535M, registered to a private owner, operating as a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, experienced a total loss of engine power in cruise flight, and made a forced landing in the vicinity of Wauchula, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The commercial pilot and one passenger reported minor injuries. The flight originated from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, about 1 hour 25 minutes before the accident.
The pilot stated he was in cruise flight at 1,500 feet agl when the airplane experienced a decrease in engine rpm. He saw a flame in the vicinity of the engine exhaust and the engine made a "clunk, clunk" noise followed by a total loss of engine power. The left main landing gear collided with a drainage ditch on touchdown and the airplane nosed over.
Examination of the engine assembly revealed the serrated teeth on the timing gear and intermediate cam drive gear were worn. This prevented the valve train and the generator from operating.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N1535M
- Reported as
- Boeing E75N1
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 75-8520
- Engine
- Continental W670A, 220 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Stanley W. Berry
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · October 1, 1995
- Departed
- FLL · Fort Lauderdale, FL
- Destination
- LAL · Lakeland, FL
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
- 48
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Rear
- Flight hours
- 1,250 total · 300 in this make and model · 1,250 as pilot in command · 60 in the last 90 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 50° at 7 knots
- Visibility
- 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 75 °F, dew point 66 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- SRQ, 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.
Other investigations on N1535M · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.