Broyles P51 N251RB

Summary

On 16 June 2001 at about 13:09 local time, a Broyles P51 registered N251RB was involved in an accident near Conestee, South Carolina, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

16 June 2001 at 13:09

Classification

Accident

Location

Conestee, South Carolina, United States

Coordinates

34.7694, -82.3792

Aircraft

Broyles P51

Registration

N251RB

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Conestee → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

MIA01LA164

1 person died.

Partial loss of engine power due to an engine cylinder experiencing detonation resulting in a forced landing to none suitable terrain.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

A witness stated he observed the airplane on the take off roll. The engine did not sound like it was running correctly (missing sound). As the airplane became airborne the missing sound became worse. The airplane reached between 1,000 to 2,000feet when the right wing dropped. Another witness on a golf course stated the engine was spitting and sputtering before it became silent. The airplane appeared to be rocking back and forth and disappeared from view behind a tree line. A friend of the pilot stated he observed the airplane depart from the airport. A puff of black smoke was observed from the vicinity of the engine exhaust stack. The airplane continued to climb and more smoke was observed. The friend informed the pilot of the smoke and instructed him by radio to return to a closed runway. The airplane started a right 90 to 110 degree roll, and the nose dropped to the near vertical position before the airplane disappeared from view below the tree line and crashed. Examination of the airframe and flight controls revealed no evidence of a precrash mechanical failure or malfunction. Examination of the engine assembly revealed the No. 1cylinder intake and exhaust valves had signs of melted metal, and the push rods were bent. The No. 1 cylinder piston was heavily damaged and showed signs of detonation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.