Beechcraft A36 N207PC

Summary

On 4 March 2018 at about 23:58 local time, a Beechcraft A36 registered N207PC was involved in an accident near Enumclaw, Washington, United States. One person was on board and one was seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

4 March 2018 at 23:58

Classification

Accident

Location

Enumclaw, Washington, United States

Coordinates

47.2025, -121.9942

Aircraft

Beechcraft A36

Registration

N207PC

Category

Airplane

Year built

2003

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Yuma → Everett

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR18LA098

1 person was seriously injured.

A total loss of engine power due to oil starvation as a result of a loose oil line B-nut.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot was at cruise altitude en route on a cross-country flight from Arizona to Washington when he noted that the engine oil pressure indicated zero and the manifold pressure was near zero. He then heard “…a loud bang, as though the engine had thrown a rod.” The cabin filled with smoke and oil covered the windscreen, and the pilot conducted a forced landing into a stand of trees, during which the airplane sustained substantial damage. Examination of the airframe revealed no anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. An examination of the engine revealed three holes in the crankcase, each consistent with an internal engine failure. All six cylinders remained attached to their respective cylinder bays; there was no indication of impact damage. The Nos. 2, 4 and 5 connecting rods had separated from the crankshaft. All rod bearings displayed lubrication distress consistent with oil starvation. The oil line B-nut attached to the turbocharger scavenge check valve was loose. Based on the available information, it is likely that the loose oil line B-nut resulted in a gradual loss of oil during the long cross-country flight, which subsequently resulted in the separation of the connecting rods due to oil starvation and a total loss of engine power.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.