Cessna U206D N72074

Summary

On 27 January 1997 at about 15:15 local time, a Cessna U206D registered N72074, operated by Red Baron Aviation, Inc., was involved in an accident near Tampa, Florida, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

27 January 1997 at 15:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Tampa, Florida, United States

Nearest airport

Tampa International (TPA)

Coordinates

27.9596, -82.4896

Aircraft

Cessna U206D

Registration

N72074

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Red Baron Aviation, Inc.

Operating rule

Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter

Purpose of flight

Unknown

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Unknown → Miami

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

MIA97LA076

Nobody was injured.

Inadequate torque of the cylinder base nuts and through bolt nuts by company maintenance personnel which allowed movement of the crankcase halves. As a result the No. 2 main bearing failed which allowed excessive movement of the crankshaft resulting in fatigue failure of the crankshaft. Contributing to the accident was unsuitable terrain encountered by the pilot during the forced landing.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot had flown the airplane once around the traffic pattern earlier in the morning with no discrepancies noted following removal and reinstallation of 4 of the 6 cylinders several days earlier. He then flew the airplane on a short positioning flight also with no discrepancies noted. The flight then departed on the chartered cargo flight and shortly after takeoff, the engine experienced a partial then complete loss of power. With unsuitable terrain ahead the pilot ditched the airplane. Following recovery of the airplane examination of the engine revealed the crankshaft was failed aft of the No. 2 main bearing due to fatigue then overload. Fretting was noted on both crankcase halves at the No. 2 main bearing saddle and the associated bearing was broken, extruded, and the bearing saddle was also extruded. Also, the No. 3 main bearing halves were found to be shifted. Review of the maintenance records revealed that overhauled cylinders were installed at all positions in August of 1996. The engine had been operated for 423 hours since at the time of the accident.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.