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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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April 27, 1985 · Beech H35 · N5544D

Lima, OH

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
April 27, 1985
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 minor injury)
Location
Lima, OH
Aircraft
Beech H35
Tail Number
N5544D
Injuries
Minor
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
CHI85LA178

THE PLT WAS FLYING THE ACFT BACK TO THE HOME ARPT FOLLOWING AN ANNUAL INSPECTION WHEN HE NOTICED THE OIL PRESSURE WAS FALLING TO ZERO. APRX 3 MIN LATER, THE ENG SEIZED. SUBSEQUENTLY, AN EMERG GEAR-UP LANDING WAS MADE IN A FARM FIELD. AN EXAM REVEALED THE OIL PRESSURE LINE HAD FRACTURED AT THE FLARED END WHERE IT WAS CONNECTED TO A 90 DEG FITTING ON THE CRANKCASE. A METALLURGICAL EXAM REVEALED THE BREAK OCCURRED FROM OVERLOAD. AN INSPN OF THE ACFT ALSO REVEALED OTHER DISCREPANCIES. WIRES FROM THE OVER VOLTAGE RELAY'S FLD TERMINAL & THE ALTENATOR FLD TERMINAL WERE MIS-ROUTED WHICH ALLOWED THE REGULATOR TO BE UNREGULATED. ALSO, AN ALLIGATOR CLIP WAS FOUND CONNECTED TO THE WIRING.

Full Narrative

THE PLT WAS FLYING THE ACFT BACK TO THE HOME ARPT FOLLOWING AN ANNUAL INSPECTION WHEN HE NOTICED THE OIL PRESSURE WAS FALLING TO ZERO. APRX 3 MIN LATER, THE ENG SEIZED. SUBSEQUENTLY, AN EMERG GEAR-UP LANDING WAS MADE IN A FARM FIELD. AN EXAM REVEALED THE OIL PRESSURE LINE HAD FRACTURED AT THE FLARED END WHERE IT WAS CONNECTED TO A 90 DEG FITTING ON THE CRANKCASE. A METALLURGICAL EXAM REVEALED THE BREAK OCCURRED FROM OVERLOAD. AN INSPN OF THE ACFT ALSO REVEALED OTHER DISCREPANCIES. WIRES FROM THE OVER VOLTAGE RELAY'S FLD TERMINAL & THE ALTENATOR FLD TERMINAL WERE MIS-ROUTED WHICH ALLOWED THE REGULATOR TO BE UNREGULATED. ALSO, AN ALLIGATOR CLIP WAS FOUND CONNECTED TO THE WIRING.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time21:20 EST
Nearest Airport6nm N
Runway0
Runway Length0
Runway Width0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftBeech H35
Tail NumberN5544D
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · O-470-G · Reciprocating · 240
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 minor injury)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor1
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 46 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightBright Night
Wind40° @ 12 kt
Visibility20 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point66 F / 46
Altimeter29.00 inHg
Observation Time01:55
Weather SourceWFAC

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Appendix: Source Data