Waco HRE N31654

Summary

On 6 December 1989 at about 21:00 local time, a Waco HRE registered N31654 was involved in an accident near Alexander City, Alabama, United States. 2 people were on board and one was seriously injured, one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

6 December 1989 at 21:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Alexander City, Alabama, United States

Nearest airport

Willow Point (NONE)

Coordinates

32.9195, -85.9295

Aircraft

Waco HRE

Registration

N31654

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Alexander City → Birmingham

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ATL90LA035

1 person was seriously injured.

AN ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO SEPARATION OF THE MAGNETO AS A RESULT OF A BROKEN MOUNTING STUD. THE MOUNTING STUD MOST LIKELY FAILED DUE TO VIBRATIONS INDUCED BY AN INADEQUATELY BALANCED CRANKSHAFT.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

SHORTLY AFTER TAKE OFF THE ENGINE LOST POWER. A FORCED LANDING WAS MADE ON A SANDY LAKE SHORE & THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER. THE MAGNETO DRIVE GEAR & A BROKEN MAGNETO MOUNTING STUD HAD SEPARATED FROM THE ENGINE AND WAS FOUND NEAR THE WRECKAGE. THE ENGINE WAS OVERHAULED ABOUT 125 HRS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT AT WHICH TIME A USED CRANKSHAFT WAS INSTALLED. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT ABOUT 1 MONTH PRIOR TO THIS ACCIDENT THAT A SIMILAR INCIDENT OCCURRED WHEN BOTH MOUNTING STUDS BROKE. THIS WAS THE ONLY WACO HRE MODEL KNOWN TO BE ACTIVELY FLYING.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.