On November 28, 1991, a Piper J-3 (registration N35535) operated by Rhyne, Jerry R. was involved in an aviation accident near Statesville, NC. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's opinion that the crankshaft had broken, which resulted in the loss of engine power and the subsequent forced landing. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
The pilot reported engine vibration and loss of power shortly after takeoff, leading to a forced landing in trees where the aircraft fell to the ground.
What happened
Shortly after takeoff, while climbing to an altitude between 300 and 400 feet, the aircraft's engine began vibrating significantly. The pilot reported that the engine subsequently lost power but continued to run without producing thrust. To avoid a stall during this critical phase of flight, the pilot maneuvered the airplane into the tops of nearby trees. The impact caused the aircraft to fall to the ground.
The investigation
The pilot provided his assessment of the mechanical failure, stating that he believed the engine's crankshaft had broken. However, the engine was not made available for additional examination by investigators to verify this claim or determine the exact nature of the internal failure.
Findings
The primary factor in this accident was the loss of engine power during the initial climb. The pilot's opinion pointed to a mechanical failure of the crankshaft, although this could not be confirmed due to the lack of physical evidence from the engine itself.
Probable cause
The pilot's opinion that the crankshaft had broken, which resulted in the loss of engine power and the subsequent forced landing.