# NTSB NYC95LA173: Ryan ST3-KR, N47082, Kennett Square, PA, July 21, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 21, 1995, 18:00 local (22:00 UTC) - Place: Kennett Square, PA - Coordinates: 39.840476, -75.709709 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.8405&lon=-75.7097&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report February 27, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 39014 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC95LA173 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/39014/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC95LA173 ## Probable cause The failure of the no. 3 cylinder connecting rod. ## 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,connecting rod - failure (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - Hard landing, descent - emergency - terrain condition - grass ## Analysis The pilot was returning to the departure airport after a 2 1/2 hour flight. Several miles from the airport, the engine began to run rough, followed by complete loss of power. The pilot performed a forced landing to a private sod strip. On final, after the aircraft cleared trees, the pilot was not able to arrest the descent rate, and the landing gear collapsed during touchdown. The engine was a Kinner R-56 manufactured in 1946, and had accumulated about 120 hours since overhaul. Examination of the engine revealed that the number three cylinder connecting rod failed at the knuckle pin. ## Factual narrative On July 21, 1995, at 1800 eastern daylight time, a Ryan ST3- KR, N47082, was substantially damaged during a forced landing to the Whittle Airport, Kennett Square, Pennsylvania. The commercial pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, for the personal flight that departed the New Garden Airport, Toughkenamon, Pennsylvania, about 1630. No flight plan had been filed for the flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. In the NTSB Form 6120.1/2, the pilot stated that he was returning to the departure airport after a 2 1/2 hour local flight. He further stated that while still several miles from the New Garden Airport, the "engine began to run rough and almost immediately seized." The pilot stated he attempted a forced landing to a private sod strip; however, after clearing trees at the end of the runway, he could not arrest the rate of descent, and the landing gear collapsed during touchdown. The pilot stated that the engine was a Kinner R-56, manufactured in 1946. The engine had accumulated about 120 hours since overhaul. According to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Inspector, examination of the engine revealed that the number three cylinder rod failed at the knuckle pin. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N47082](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N47082), registered now, S/N 1443, built 1941 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: RYAN ST3-KR - Registry model: [Ryan Aeronautical ST3KR](https://openairdocs.org/model/ryan-aeronautical-st3kr) (registry code 7830502) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Kinner R5 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/kinner-r5-series) (registry code 37504, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 1443 - Engines: KINNER R-56 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Alexis I. Dupont - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 9, 1995, 6 hours before - Departed: N57, TOUGHKENAMON, PA - Airport: 1PA6, Whittle, runway 6, 2,000 × 100 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 67; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: rear; flight hours: 4,500 total, 100 in this make and model, 4,000 as pilot in command, 50 in the last 90 days, 25 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 330° at 5 knots - Visibility: 5 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 90 °F ## 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 19950721048859A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950721048859A), Jul 21, 1995: Ryan ST3KR, Toughkenamon, PA, Substantial damage. (-16) On site investigation revealed there was approx. 8 gals of fuel remaining at the time of the accident. (Fuel tank capacity 20 gals). The pilot stated… 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.