Cessna 175A N6949E

Summary

On 9 December 1994 at about 19:46 local time, a Cessna 175A registered N6949E, operated by Cothran, Freddie M., was involved in an accident near Greenwood, South Carolina, United States. One person was on board and 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

9 December 1994 at 19:46

Classification

Accident

Location

Greenwood, South Carolina, United States

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

Cessna 175A

Registration

N6949E

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Cothran, Freddie M.

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Barnwell → Clemson

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ATL95LA025

1 person had minor injuries.

UNAPPROVED MAINTENANCE WORK DONE BY UNCERTIFICATED PERSONS WHICH RESULTED IN A BROKEN STARTER DRIVE WHICH WAS NOT PROPERLY REMOVED FROM THE ENGINE. THE PARTICLES SHEARED THE MAGNETO SHAFTS CAUSING THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE AIRPLANE LOST ENGINE POWER 39 MINUTES INTO THE FLIGHT. THE PILOT MADE A FORCED LANDING AT A GOLF COURSE. UPON LANDING, THE AIRPLANE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED AND THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER. A POST-ACCIDENT ENGINE INSPECTION REVEALED BOTH MAGNETOS SHAFTS WERE SHEARED BECAUSE OF A FOREIGN OBJECT WHICH HAD BEEN TRAPPED BETWEEN THE RIGHT MAGNETO GEAR AND THE ACCESSORY CASE. PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT, UNAPPROVED MAINTENANCE HAD BEEN DONE ON THE AIRPLANE BY AN UNCERTIFICATED PERSON. DURING THE MAINTENANCE WORK, WHEN THE ENGINE STARTED IT KICKED BACK AND BROKE THE GEAR ON THE STARTER DRIVE. A MAGNET WAS USED TO RETRIEVE THE BROKEN GEAR FROM THE REAR OF THE ENGINE. THE ACCESSORY CASE WAS NOT REMOVED TO RECOVER THE REMAINDER OF THE BROKEN GEAR PARTICLES.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.