Stewart S-51 N51FY

Summary

On 9 June 2000 at about 12:50 local time, a Stewart S-51 registered N51FY, operated by Frank Yamrick, was involved in an accident near Forty Fort, Pennsylvania, 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 June 2000 at 12:50

Classification

Accident

Location

Forty Fort, Pennsylvania, United States

Nearest airport

Wyoming Valley Airport (WBW)

Coordinates

41.2969, -75.8511

Aircraft

Stewart S-51

Registration

N51FY

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Frank Yamrick

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Forty Fort → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

NYC00LA156

1 person had minor injuries.

The owner/builder's inadequate design, resulting in total failure of the reduction gear assembly accessory drive shaft.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

During takeoff, approximately 150 above the ground, the propeller reduction gearbox input shaft failed, and the airplane lost all power. The pilot performed a forced landing to a field where the airplane struck a fence. After reviewing the wreckage, the pilot stated that he machined his own shaft for the home built airplane. He stated that he machined the shaft too thin, and after about 150 hours of operation, it failed at its weakest point. The kit manufacturer stated that the production model shafts are larger, and used aviation splines, whereas the accident airplane had a smaller shaft that used automotive splines.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.