- Date
- August 3, 1991, 23:47 local (Aug 4, 1991, 03:47 UTC)
- Place
- Pleasantville, NJ
- Injuries
- 3 fatal
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N9375SBeech C23
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Night/dark
- Status
- Completed · report April 27, 1993
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19910803031319A
- Case key
- 36805
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 power loss due to a failed crankshaft, while operating over unsuitable terrain. Factors related to the accident were, the night conditions, the failure of maintenance personnel to detect the cracks using magnaflux inspections, the lack of adequate procedures/directions on detection of cracks, and the lack of qualifications/certification for operators conducting nondestructive testing.
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 experienced a power loss shortly after takeoff while operating over a residential area at night. The airplane struck a telephone pole, and crashed and burned in a street. Records indicate the engine had a prop strike at 1828 hrs, was overhauled at 2164 hrs, and overhauled again at 3407 hrs. The accident occurred at 3486 hrs. No records were available for the first overhaul, however when examined at the 2nd overhaul the crankshaft was found to be undersized by .003 inch.. The crankshaft had failed at the rear of the number 3 crankpin. Metallurgical examination found the fracture originated subsurface in an area of stress. Nitriding residue was found in cracks which had not been detected by nondestructive testing. The FAA does not require the certification of nondestructive testing operators.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N9375S
- Reported as
- Beech C23
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- M1673
- Airframe hours
- 3,486
- Engine
- Lycoming O-360-A4K, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Fire
- On-Ground
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Groton Navy Flying Club
- Registered owner
- Groton Navy Flying Club
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · April 11, 1991 · 75 hours before
- Departed
- AIY · Atlantic City, NJ
- Destination
- FRG · Farmingdale, NY
- Flight plan
- IFR
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
- 29
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 278 total · 7 in this make and model · 228 as pilot in command · 17 in the last 90 days · 11 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Night/dark
- Wind
- 210° at 7 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 13,000 ft broken
- Temperature
- 77 °F, dew point 73 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- ACY, 4 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.