On August 23, 1999, a Beech D-35 (registration N2934B) was involved in an aviation accident near Seminole, OK. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The loss of engine power caused by oil starvation, which resulted in the failure of the #6 cylinder connecting rod bolts. A factor was the pilot's performance of an evasive maneuver to avoid impacting buildings, trees, people on the ground, and power lines. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
An airplane suffered an engine power loss while inbound. The pilot lost control during obstacle avoidance, resulting in a nose-low terrain impact, explosion, and fire. Investigation found oil starvation caused a connecting rod failure, but the root cause of the starvation could not be determined.
Accident Summary
The airplane was inbound to the airport when the engine lost power. Subsequently, the pilot lost control while maneuvering to avoid a business, trees, a residence, people on the ground, and power lines. The airplane impacted the terrain in a nose-low attitude and was destroyed by the impact sequence, ensuing explosion, and fire.
Investigation Findings
Examination of the engine revealed a hole in the crankcase of the Continental E-225-8 engine over the #6 cylinder, and the #6 connecting rod was found separated from the rod journal. An engine teardown disclosed a massive oil starvation event. The #6 connecting rod disconnected from the crankshaft journal due to the heat generated by the oil starvation, causing the connecting rod bolts to fail in ductile overload from the elevated temperature. The reason for the oil starvation could not be determined through examination of the engine or the airplane wreckage. The maintenance records were destroyed by the post-impact fire, preventing determination of the engine's maintenance history.
Frequently asked questions
What happened in the 23 Aug 1999 Beech D-35 accident near Seminole, OK?
An airplane suffered an engine power loss while inbound. The pilot lost control during obstacle avoidance, resulting in a nose-low terrain impact, explosion, and fire. Investigation found oil starvation caused a connecting rod failure, but the root cause of the starvation could not be determined.
What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?
The accident on 23 Aug 1999 involved a Beech D-35, registration N2934B, at Seminole, OK.
What was the probable cause of the accident?
The loss of engine power caused by oil starvation, which resulted in the failure of the #6 cylinder connecting rod bolts. A factor was the pilot's performance of an evasive maneuver to avoid impacting buildings, trees, people on the ground, and power lines.
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