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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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NTSB Report

January 12, 1992 · Beech J-35 · N185Y

Knoxville, TN

Overview

Report Status
Probable Cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
January 12, 1992
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (1 uninjured)
Location
Knoxville, TN
Aircraft
Beech J-35
Tail Number
N185Y
Operator
Webster Gordon
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
ATL92LA038

Shortly after takeoff, the pilot reported a severe vibration in the airplane, followed by a complete loss of engine power. An emergency landing was attempted to runway 24R at McGhee Tyson Airport, but the airplane crashed a mile short of the runway. Examination of the engine assembly revealed that number 1 & 2 cylinders had separated from the engine case. The examination also disclosed that the cylinder hold down studs were damaged and the threads were battered. There was an accumulation of metallic dust associated with fretting adjacent to the cylinder flange and engine case. Several hold down nuts were not recovered for examination. The engine maintenance log showed that the number 1 cylinder was removed and installed in accordance with current service instructions 314 hours prior to this accident. Subsequent to this accident Continental Motors issued a service bulletin increasing the hold down torque nut values from 710 inch pound to 810 inch pounds, and changed existing six point hold down nuts to twelve point nuts.

NTSB Probable Cause

THE MANUFACTURER'S FAILURE TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE TORQUE INFORMATION WHICH RESULTED IN THE LOSS OF TORQUE ON THE CYLINDER HOLD DOWN NUTS AND THE COMPLETE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER.

Full Narrative

SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF, THE PILOT REPORTED A SEVERE VIBRATION IN THE AIRPLANE, FOLLOWED BY A COMPLETE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. AN EMERGENCY LANDING WAS ATTEMPTED TO RUNWAY 24R AT MCGHEE TYSON AIRPORT, BUT THE AIRPLANE CRASHED A MILE SHORT OF THE RUNWAY. EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE ASSEMBLY REVEALED THAT NUMBER 1 & 2 CYLINDERS HAD SEPARATED FROM THE ENGINE CASE. THE EXAMINATION ALSO DISCLOSED THAT THE CYLINDER HOLD DOWN STUDS WERE DAMAGED AND THE THREADS WERE BATTERED. THERE WAS AN ACCUMULATION OF METALLIC DUST ASSOCIATED WITH FRETTING ADJACENT TO THE CYLINDER FLANGE AND ENGINE CASE. SEVERAL HOLD DOWN NUTS WERE NOT RECOVERED FOR EXAMINATION. THE ENGINE MAINTENANCE LOG SHOWED THAT THE NUMBER 1 CYLINDER WAS REMOVED AND INSTALLED IN ACCORDANCE WITH CURRENT SERVICE INSTRUCTIONS 314 HOURS PRIOR TO THIS ACCIDENT. SUBSEQUENT TO THIS ACCIDENT CONTINENTAL MOTORS ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN INCREASING THE HOLD DOWN TORQUE NUT VALUES FROM 710 INCH POUND TO 810 INCH POUNDS, AND CHANGED EXISTING SIX POINT HOLD DOWN NUTS TO TWELVE POINT NUTS.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time14:02 EST
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftBeech J-35
Tail NumberN185Y
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorWebster Gordon
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · I0-470-C · Reciprocating · 250
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (1 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total1
Crew 1Age 53 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind250° @ 6 kt
Visibility7 sm
CeilingOvercast 6500 ft
Temperature / Dew Point39 C / 0 C
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time19:10
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data