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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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August 13, 1984 · Bakeman-Chapman Cassutt III M Cassutt II · N520BC

Olin, TX

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
August 13, 1984
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 serious injury)
Location
Olin, TX
Aircraft
Bakeman-Chapman Cassutt III M Cassutt II
Tail Number
N520BC
Operator
Jon M Chenettec
Injuries
Serious
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
FTW84FA347

PLT HAD PURCHASED THE ACFT EARLIER ON DAY OF ACCIDENT. HE HAD NO PREVIOUS TIME IN THE ACFT. HE FLEW FOR 220 MILES AND MADE FIRST LANDING. ACFT SERVICED WITH FUEL ONLY. TAKEOFF WAS MADE AND HE FLEW FOR 60 MILES. ENG BEGAN TO VIBRATE AND BLACK SMOKE OBSERVED. PLT MADE EMERG LANDING AND TOUCHED DOWN HARD IN LEVEL SOD FIELD. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE #1 ROD FAILED FROM OVERHEAT CAUSED BY LACK OF OIL. OIL DRAIN PLUG MISSING. EVIDENCE OF DIRT IN THE HOLE THREADS. NO EVIDENCE OF IMPACT ON DRAIN PLUG. ENG TEAR DOWN AND NTSB METALLURGICAL EXAM CONFIRMED OIL STARVATION TO ROD BEARING COMPONENTS. LAST OIL CHANGE WAS MORE THAN ONE MONTH PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT AND THE ACFT HAD NOT BEEN FLOWN UNTIL THE DAY OF THE ACCIDENT.

Full Narrative

PLT HAD PURCHASED THE ACFT EARLIER ON DAY OF ACCIDENT. HE HAD NO PREVIOUS TIME IN THE ACFT. HE FLEW FOR 220 MILES AND MADE FIRST LANDING. ACFT SERVICED WITH FUEL ONLY. TAKEOFF WAS MADE AND HE FLEW FOR 60 MILES. ENG BEGAN TO VIBRATE AND BLACK SMOKE OBSERVED. PLT MADE EMERG LANDING AND TOUCHED DOWN HARD IN LEVEL SOD FIELD. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE #1 ROD FAILED FROM OVERHEAT CAUSED BY LACK OF OIL. OIL DRAIN PLUG MISSING. EVIDENCE OF DIRT IN THE HOLE THREADS. NO EVIDENCE OF IMPACT ON DRAIN PLUG. ENG TEAR DOWN AND NTSB METALLURGICAL EXAM CONFIRMED OIL STARVATION TO ROD BEARING COMPONENTS. LAST OIL CHANGE WAS MORE THAN ONE MONTH PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT AND THE ACFT HAD NOT BEEN FLOWN UNTIL THE DAY OF THE ACCIDENT.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time19:00 CDT
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Runway Length0
Runway Width0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftBakeman-Chapman Cassutt III M Cassutt II
Tail NumberN520BC
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
OperatorJon M Chenettec
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · O-200-A · Reciprocating
Seats1

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 serious injury)
Fatal0
Serious1
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 40 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDusk
Wind70° @ 6 kt
Visibility7 sm
CeilingBroken clouds 3500 ft
Temperature / Dew Point70 F
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time00:52
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data