- Date
- November 26, 1995, 12:10 local (17:10 UTC)
- Place
- Southbridge, MA
- Injuries
- 1 serious, 2 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N344CStinson 108-2
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report April 1, 1996
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19951126046159A
- Case key
- 39124
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
fatigue failure of the engine crankshaft.
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
During cruise flight, the pilot observed a loss of engine power. He performed emergency procedures; however, the engine continued to lose power. The pilot made a forced landing during which the airplane collided with trees. Postaccident examination of the engine revealed the engine crankshaft was separated into three pieces. An inspector stated, 'The failed crankshaft has evidence of a fatigue fracture....'
Factual narrative
On November 26, 1995, at 1210 eastern standard time, a Stinson 108-2, N344C, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing in Southbridge, Massachusetts. The private pilot received serious injuries, and the two passengers received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight, which departed New Bedford, Massachusetts destined for Warehouse Point, Connecticut. The flight was being conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.
In the NTSB form 6120.1/2, the pilot stated:
...Took off and headed back to [Wharehouse Point, Connecticut]. Everything went fine until we got to Southbridge. We were about 4 miles past Southbridge, I heard a slight noise and noticed a drop of 50 RPM. I pulled [carburetor] heat and went to full rich on fuel. The engine seemed to smooth out, so I started to close the [carburetor] heat. When [carburetor] heat about 1/2 closed, I noticed RPM dropping to zero, and I could [see] propeller tips going by. I tried once to restart, but no response.
The pilot performed a forced landing to the backyard of a private residence, during which the airplane collided with trees.
Postaccident examination of the engine by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Inspector revealed that the engine crankshaft was separated in three pieces. The FAA Inspector's report stated:
...The failure of the crankshaft is suspected to be the cause of the engine failure. There was very minor damage to the propeller....The failed crankshaft has evidence of a fatigue fracture at the number 6 web. The FAA IIC believes the crankshaft failure was not a result of impact, but in fact failed in flight from a propagating fatigue crack.
The report further stated:
...Two people...in the woods witnessed the accident....Both witnesses cannot recall hearing engine operating noise....
Aircraft
- Registration
- N344C
- Reported as
- Stinson 108-2
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 3344
- Engine
- Franklin 6A4-165-B3, 165 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Louis F. Furnas
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- EWB · New Bedford, MA
- Destination
- 7B2 · Northampton, MA
- Airport
- 3B0 · Southbridge Municipal
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 51
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 592 total · 200 in this make and model · 478 as pilot in command · 21 in the last 90 days · 9 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.