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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

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June 29, 1985 · Kibler-Bede BD-5B · N5KB

Oak Harbor, WA

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
June 29, 1985
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 fatality)
Location
Oak Harbor, WA
Aircraft
Kibler-Bede BD-5B
Tail Number
N5KB
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
SEA85FA156

PRIOR TO THE ACDNT, WITNESSES APRX 9 MI SW OF THE CRASH SITE SAW AN ACFT (MATCHING THE DESCRIPTION OF N5KB) FLYING AT ABOUT 100 TO 200 FT OVER THE WATER ON A NE HEADING. IT THEN PULLED UP IN A STEEP CLIMBING TURN TOWARD THE SHORELINE. NO KNOWN WITNESSES SAW THE ACDNT; HOWEVER, SEVERAL PERSONS CLEARLY HEARD THE ENG SPUTTERING OR CUTTING IN & OUT JUST PRIOR THE THE CRASH. AN EXAM OF THE CRASH SITE REVEALED THE ACFT HAD IMPACTED IN TREES WHILE IN A STEEP DESCENT. NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION WAS FOUND THAT WOULD HAVE CAUSED A LOSS OF CONTROL. THE ACFT WAS EQUIPPED WITH A 3 CYLINDER, 2 CYCLE, RECIPROCATING ENG WHICH HAD 3 CARBURETORS. WATER & FOREIGN MATERIAL WERE FOUND IN THE BOWLS OF ALL 3 CARBURETORS. ALSO, THE ACFT FUEL FILTER WAS FOUND TO BE CONTAMINATED WITH WATER & FOREIGN MATERIAL. DURING AN ENG TEARDOWN, EVIDENCE OF OVERHEATING & SCOURING OF THE #3 PISTON & CYLINDER WAS ALSO NOTED.

Full Narrative

PRIOR TO THE ACDNT, WITNESSES APRX 9 MI SW OF THE CRASH SITE SAW AN ACFT (MATCHING THE DESCRIPTION OF N5KB) FLYING AT ABOUT 100 TO 200 FT OVER THE WATER ON A NE HEADING. IT THEN PULLED UP IN A STEEP CLIMBING TURN TOWARD THE SHORELINE. NO KNOWN WITNESSES SAW THE ACDNT; HOWEVER, SEVERAL PERSONS CLEARLY HEARD THE ENG SPUTTERING OR CUTTING IN & OUT JUST PRIOR THE THE CRASH. AN EXAM OF THE CRASH SITE REVEALED THE ACFT HAD IMPACTED IN TREES WHILE IN A STEEP DESCENT. NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION WAS FOUND THAT WOULD HAVE CAUSED A LOSS OF CONTROL. THE ACFT WAS EQUIPPED WITH A 3 CYLINDER, 2 CYCLE, RECIPROCATING ENG WHICH HAD 3 CARBURETORS. WATER & FOREIGN MATERIAL WERE FOUND IN THE BOWLS OF ALL 3 CARBURETORS. ALSO, THE ACFT FUEL FILTER WAS FOUND TO BE CONTAMINATED WITH WATER & FOREIGN MATERIAL. DURING AN ENG TEARDOWN, EVIDENCE OF OVERHEATING & SCOURING OF THE #3 PISTON & CYLINDER WAS ALSO NOTED.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time15:05 PDT
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Runway Length0
Runway Width0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftKibler-Bede BD-5B
Tail NumberN5KB
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsZenoah · GT2C · Reciprocating · 65
Seats1

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 fatality)
Fatal1
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 39 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind140° @ 13 kt
Visibility7 sm
CeilingBroken clouds 20000 ft
Temperature / Dew Point70 F / 46
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time21:00
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data