Beechcraft B19 N774TA

Summary

On 11 March 2015 at about 17:43 local time, a Beechcraft B19 registered N774TA, operated by GDS Properties, was involved in an accident near Osage Beach, Missouri, United States. 3 people were on board and one was seriously injured, 2 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

11 March 2015 at 17:43

Classification

Accident

Location

Osage Beach, Missouri, United States

Nearest airport

Grand Glaize-Osage Beach Arto (K15)

Coordinates

38.1106, -92.6806

Aircraft

Beechcraft B19

Registration

N774TA

Category

Airplane

Year built

1976

Engines

1

Operator

GDS Properties

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Grand Glaize → St. Louis

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN15LA172

1 person was seriously injured.

The failure of the No. 4 piston wrist pin plug and the subsequent entry of its metal shavings into the oil system, which clogged the oil passages and caused the engine to seize. Contributing to the accident was the installation of engine parts that were not approved by the engine manufacturer.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that, shortly after takeoff, he noticed that the oil pressure was dropping. Shortly after the oil pressure dropped, the engine seized, and the pilot subsequently ditched the airplane in a lake. When the airplane was recovered, the oil dipstick was missing. However, more than 4 quarts of oil and only about 1 to 2 cups of water were drained from the engine. If the dipstick had not been in the engine at impact, the engine would have been full of water. Further, the pilot reported that he had replaced the dipstick after checking the oil; so, the dipstick likely was in place at impact. No signs of oil were found in the engine cowling, and no oil streaks were observed underneath the fuselage. A postaccident examination of the engine revealed that the crankshaft middle bearing had seized. The third bearing aft, which was between the two banks of cylinders, and the No. 3 connecting rod bearing had rotated and exhibited severe heat distress and mechanical damage. The No. 4 piston wrist pin plug was deformed, and the deformation had damaged the side of the piston. Aluminum pieces and shavings were found throughout the engine. It is likely that, as the No. 4 wrist pin plug wore down, its shavings entered the oil system and clogged the oil passages, which caused the engine to seize. The examination also revealed that the engine parts installed on the airplane, including the No. 4 piston wrist pin plug, were not approved by the engine manufacturer.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.