Besarick SKYBOLT N27265

Summary

On 17 March 2018 at about 18:24 local time, a Besarick SKYBOLT registered N27265 was involved in an accident near Punta Gorda, Florida, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

17 March 2018 at 18:24

Classification

Accident

Location

Punta Gorda, Florida, United States

Nearest airport

Punta Gorda Airport (PGD)

Coordinates

26.9711, -81.9608

Aircraft

Besarick SKYBOLT

Registration

N27265

Category

Airplane

Year built

1981

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Punta Gorda → Punta Gorda

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA18LA110

1 person had minor injuries.

A substantial oil leak, which resulted in a partial loss of engine power and failure of the No. 2 connecting rod.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The commercial pilot was flying the airplane on the first flight of a 10-hour break-in period after an engine overhaul. The preflight inspection and ground operations were normal, with no signs of oil leaks. About 35 minutes into the flight, oil appeared on both windscreens, blocking the pilot’s forward visibility; the windscreens eventually became completely covered with oil. The pilot contacted tower personnel, who cleared him to land. The engine then lost partial power. Tower personnel reported smoke coming from the engine. Unable to make the runway, the pilot chose to land the airplane in a field. After landing, the airplane collided with a ditch and came to rest. The engine caught fire, and the pilot egressed the airplane. A postcrash fire consumed most of the wreckage. Examination of the engine revealed a large hole in the top of the engine case adjacent to the No. 2 cylinder. The No. 2 connecting rod was fractured at the crankshaft. The connecting rod failure was likely the result of oil starvation to the crankshaft. Extensive postcrash fire damage to the engine, hoses, and accessories prevented investigators from determining the source of the oil leak.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.