# NTSB MIA97LA144: Stinson 108-1, N9063K, Smithfield, NC, April 19, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 19, 1997, 13:20 local (17:20 UTC) - Place: Smithfield, NC - Coordinates: 35.499378, -78.340026 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.4994&lon=-78.3400&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 29, 1997 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 38267 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA97LA144 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/38267/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA97LA144 ## Probable cause a fracture in the crankshaft, which resulted in a total loss of engine power, a forced landing, and a nose over. ## 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 - engine assembly,crankshaft - fractured (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - Nose over, emergency landing - terrain condition - soft ## Analysis While in cruise flight, the pilot noticed that the engine 'became a little rough,' oil pressure was bleeding off, and the tachometer was fluctuating, followed by a complete loss of engine power. The pilot elected to land in a field, touched down, rolled about 240 feet, before 'soft dirt' caused the airplane to nose over. Examination of the engine revealed it would not rotate, but oil and fuel were present. The engine was disassembled, and examination revealed that the crankshaft had cracked completely through at the number one connecting rod journal. The fracture appeared to be clean with no exterior evidence of an existing crack or deterioration of any kind. The fracture did have within it, ridges and valleys and what appeared to be air bubbles near the ridges and valleys. ## Factual narrative On April 19, 1997, about 1320 eastern daylight time, a Stinson 108-1, N9063K, registered to a private owner, operating as a Title 14 CFR Part 91, local personal flight, nosed over during a forced landing, near Smithfield, North Carolina. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The airplane was substantially damaged. The commercial pilot was not injured. While in cruise flight the pilot noticed that the engine "became a little rough," oil pressure was bleeding off and the tachometer was fluctuating, followed by a complete loss of engine power. The pilot elected to land in a field, touched down, rolled about 240 feet, before the "soft dirt" caused the airplane to nose over. Examination of the engine revealed it would not rotate, oil and fuel were present. The engine was disassembled on May 5, 1997, under the supervision of the FAA, and according the FAA Inspector's statement; "...it was noted that the crankshaft had cracked completely through at the number one connecting rod journal. This crack appeared to be clean with no exterior evidence of an existing crack or deterioration of any kind. The crack did have within it ridges and valleys and what appeared to be air bubbles near those ridges and valleys...." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9063K](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9063K), registered now, S/N 108-2063, built 1947 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Stinson 108-1 - Registry model: [Universal Stinson 108](https://openairdocs.org/model/universal-stinson-108) (registry code 9230412) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-470R](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470r) (registry code 17071, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 108-2063 - Airframe hours: 1205 - Engines: Franklin 6A4-150-B3 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: John F. Talton - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 8, 1997, 42 hours before ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 36; private, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, unknown; seat: left; flight hours: 516 total, 92 in this make and model, 466 as pilot in command, 8 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 220° at 8 knots, gusting 12 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 64 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg ## 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 19970419006239A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970419006239A), Apr 19, 1997: Univar 1081, Smithfield, NC, Substantial damage. Lost powr en route. Nosed over landing soft dirt field. Broken crankshaft. (-23) the aircraft departed a private strip (talton) at approximately 1300 EDT, 19… ## Other investigations on N9063K (1) 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. - [NTSB ANC16LA035](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC16LA035), Jun 26, 2016: Universal Stinson 108 (N9063K), Big Lake, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: A total loss of engine power during cruise flight for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examination of the airframe and engine revealed no mechanical malfunctions or failures… 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.