Beechcraft V35 N5655D

Summary

On 28 November 2013 at about 15:50 local time, a Beechcraft V35 registered N5655D, operated by Kent Ewing, was involved in an accident near Trussville, Alabama, United States. 3 people were on board and 3 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

28 November 2013 at 15:50

Classification

Accident

Location

Trussville, Alabama, United States

Coordinates

33.6305, -86.5903

Aircraft

Beechcraft V35

Registration

N5655D

Category

Airplane

Year built

1967

Operator

Kent Ewing

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Norfolk → Birmingham

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA14LA052

3 people had minor injuries.

The failure of the No. 2 connecting rod due to oil starvation, which resulted in a total loss of engine power.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that, during approach, he heard a "loud pop" and that the engine then lost total power. The airplane was too far away to glide to the destination airport, so the pilot chose to perform a forced landing to a field, which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage. Subsequent teardown examination of the engine revealed evidence of oil starvation at the No. 2 connecting rod, which resulted in its separation from the crankshaft and its subsequent puncturing of a hole in the crankcase. The oil tube from the main bearing to the No. 2 connecting rod was found clear and unrestricted. At some point during the life of the engine, the interior of the rocker covers had been coated with an unapproved material. The coating material had been flaking off during operation and had been cleaned from two of six of the rocker covers. The four remaining covers still contained the coating material, but it could not be determined if the material caused the oil restriction because none of the material was found in any of the oil or oil passages. However, it is possible that any restricting material dislodged and escaped during the engine failure.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.