Accident Overview
On February 25, 2025, about 1345 eastern standard time, a Beech E33, registration N7697N, was substantially damaged during a forced landing near Lenoir, North Carolina. The single-engine airplane was operated as a personal flight under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured.
Pilot Report
The pilot stated that the airplane’s annual inspection had been completed about 3.7 hours before the accident flight. During that inspection, the No. 6 cylinder had been replaced due to low compression. The flight departed from Anson County Airport (AFP) in Wadesboro, North Carolina, destined for Lake Cumberland Regional Airport (SME) in Somerset, Kentucky.
Approximately 45 minutes after takeoff, while cruising at 6,500 ft mean sea level, the pilot noticed an increase in engine rpm. He reduced the rpm using the propeller controller. About five minutes later, the rpm increased again. This time, the propeller control would not adjust the rpm. The pilot decided not to continue over mountainous terrain and elected to land at the nearest suitable airport, Hickory Regional Airport (HKY) in Hickory, North Carolina.
About five minutes after that decision, the engine experienced a catastrophic failure, with parts exiting from the top of the engine cowling. The pilot glided the airplane to Lower Creek Airport (NC27) in Lenoir, North Carolina. However, the airplane was too high and fast, resulting in a long landing on the grass runway. It skidded off the end of the runway and struck a fence, substantially damaging the leading edges of both wings.
Postaccident Examination
An airframe and powerplant mechanic examined the engine after the accident. The oil filter adapter housing was found loose, and the gasket appeared to have failed and split open, allowing oil to leak from the engine. The No. 5 and No. 6 connecting rods were fractured from the crankshaft.
The airplane’s most recent annual inspection had been completed on January 20, 2025. The airplane had accumulated 4.4 total hours of operation since that inspection.
Airworthiness Directive
The Federal Aviation Administration issued Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2022-04-04, effective March 29, 2022, for Continental Aerospace Technologies and Continental Motors engines. The AD was prompted by reports of two accidents resulting from power loss due to oil starvation when the oil filter adapter vibrated loose, causing oil loss. The AD directed the replacement of the fiber gasket with a copper gasket. Review of the accident airplane’s maintenance records revealed no evidence that the AD had been accomplished.