Christen S-2B N260Z

Summary

On 8 May 1999 at about 14:10 local time, a Christen S-2B registered N260Z was involved in an accident near Knoxville, Tennessee, 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

8 May 1999 at 14:10

Classification

Accident

Location

Knoxville, Tennessee, United States

Nearest airport

McGee Tyson (TYS)

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

Christen S-2B

Registration

N260Z

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

MIA99LA152

Nobody was injured.

a total loss of engine power caused by the failure of the number 6 connecting rod, due to oil starvation for an undetermined reason.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

After performing several aerobatic maneuvers at about 6,000 feet msl and 110 mph, the pilot noted that the engine rpm surged for about two seconds and then recovered to the previously set 2,500 rpm. He elected to return to the departure airport, which was about 17 miles from his location. About 1 minute later, at an altitude of 5,500 feet he said he '...noted the oil temperature started to climb.' At this point he was about 14 mile from the airport. He said, '...the engine vibrated severely with a loud metallic sound, oil poured onto the windscreen, and the cockpit filled with smoke...and the engine simultaneously seized, stopping the prop before I could feather it...I...determined that we could probably not clear the ridge line...the only practical place within gliding range to perform a forced landing was a small pasture about 1 mile behind us in the bottom of a valley alongside a small road...slowing to...90 mph...touched down about 150 feet past the fence...I had difficulty keeping the tailwheel from bouncing as we plowed through the high grass and had to make continuos rudder inputs to keep tracking straight. After approximately 300 feet of roll out, the aircraft yawed right, the left main collapsed under the aircraft, and we slid sideways onto the bottom left wing, which snapped off, taking the left upper wing with it...rotated about 180 degrees counterclockwise, and stopped in an upright position....' The engine teardown revealed that the No. 6 connecting rod had failed due to oil starvation. According to the FAA inspector, the cause of the oil starvation was 'undetermined.'

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.