Commander 114-B N114BW

Summary

On 14 June 2001 at about 18:15 local time, a Commander 114-B registered N114BW, operated by Gary A. Gallo, was involved in an accident near Okmulgee, Oklahoma, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

14 June 2001 at 18:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Okmulgee, Oklahoma, United States

Nearest airport

Okmulgee Municipal Airport (OKM)

Coordinates

35.6303, -95.9505

Aircraft

Commander 114-B

Registration

N114BW

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Gary A. Gallo

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Murray → Oklahoma City

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

FTW01LA143

1 person had minor injuries.

the failure of the #6 cylinder's connecting rod, which resulted in a complete loss of engine power. A contributing factor to the accident was the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The flight had been airborne for three hours when the pilot heard a "loud bang" and the engine lost total power. He executed a forced landing to a field, during which the airplane contacted dirt mounds that were 4 feet high, before it came to a stop upright. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that fresh engine oil was adhering to the left side of the fuselage from the engine cowling extending back to the empennage. The oil dipstick was removed and indicated only 2 quarts (8 quart capacity). The oil was black and smelled as though it had been exposed to heat. The engine crankcase displayed a 2.5-inch diameter hole between the #5 and #6 cylinders. The engine was disassembled and it was noted that the connecting rod for the #6 cylinder had separated from its piston and the crankshaft. The #6 connecting rod journal displayed evidence of thermal damage and metal transfer. Metallurgical examination of the #6 connecting rod end cap and bolt revealed fractures indicative of overstress at extreme temperatures. Additionally, the rod end cap bearing surface displayed fretting and metal transfer. No other anomalies with the engine were noted.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.