Betchan KR II N250KB
7 June 2004 · Rapid City, South Dakota, United States · Minor injuries
Summary
On 7 June 2004 at about 19:02 local time, a Betchan KR II registered N250KB was involved in an accident near Rapid City, South Dakota, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 19:02
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Rapid City, South Dakota, United States
- Nearest airport
- Rapid City Regional (RAP)
- Coordinates
- 44.0453, -103.0575
- Aircraft
- Betchan KR II
- Registration
- N250KB
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Not recorded
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Rapid City → Unknown
- Aircraft damage
- Destroyed
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- CHI04LA145
People
1 person had minor injuries.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Probable cause
Failure of the engine rocker arm installation resulting in a loss of engine power. A contributing factor was the power lines.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
The amateur-built airplane was destroyed by an in-flight collision with terrain during a forced landing following a loss of engine power. The pilot reported that the takeoff was routine through 300-400 feet above ground level (agl) when the engine lost and then regained power. He was attempting to return to the airport when the engine lost power again. He reportedly turned to the left in order to avoid some hills in front of the aircraft. He maneuvered the aircraft again to avoid power lines "only to stall-slide into the terrain." The aircraft impacted the side of a small hill less than one-quarter mile west of the airport. A post-accident examination revealed that the left valve cover and rocker arms had separated from the engine. The valve cover and three of the four rocker arms were present in the vicinity of the engine. The fourth rocker arm was not located. The left side valve push rods had also separated from the engine and were located in the debris. The valve cover was dented in a manner consistent with impacts to the internal side of the cover.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 Jul 2004 | Pzl-Mielec M-18T | Pine Ridge, South Dakota, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 18 Jan 2004 | Bombardier CL-600-2B19 | Rapid City, South Dakota, United States | Skywest Airlines Inc | No injuries | - |
| 31 Jul 2004 | Piper PA-28-140 | Custer, South Dakota, United States | Flight Training Adventure Camps | No injuries | - |
| 29 Sep 2004 | Arganbright VANS RV-4 | Custer, South Dakota, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 23 Jun 2004 | Air Tractor AT-401 | Britton, South Dakota, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 4 Dec 2004 | Cessna 182P | Belle Fourche, South Dakota, United States | Aero Flight Training | Minor injuries | - |