Bede BD5 N501BD

Summary

On 8 October 2019 at about 19:29 local time, a Bede BD5 registered N501BD was involved in an accident near Camarillo, California, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

8 October 2019 at 19:29

Classification

Accident

Location

Camarillo, California, United States

Nearest airport

Camarillo (CMA)

Coordinates

34.2136, -119.0944

Aircraft

Bede BD5

Registration

N501BD

Category

Airplane

Year built

1998

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Camarillo → Camarillo

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR20FA005

1 person died.

The No. 4 connecting rod’s bearing shift and separation of the No. 4 connecting rod, which resulted in a total loss of engine power and subsequent forced landing.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot departed in the experimental, amateur-built airplane and remained in the airport traffic pattern. The tower controller noticed that the airplane was low on the downwind leg and asked the pilot if he could climb. The pilot responded that he was having issues climbing and would need to stay at that altitude. The pilot also stated that he would need to make a full-stop landing. The pilot was cleared to land, and, shortly thereafter, the airplane was observed in a rapid descent. Several witnesses located near the accident site reported that the airplane was low before it descended rapidly toward the ground. One witness stated that the propeller was not moving. The airplane impacted a lettuce field about 3/4 mile south of the airport and immediately nosed over. Postaccident examination of the engine revealed that the connecting rod bearing, and endcap had separated from the crankshaft. Engine disassembly revealed that the engine’s oil galleys and the No. 4 connecting rod journal’s oil galley were not obstructed. The section of the rod end cap with the bearing tang insert had mechanical damage consistent with bearing shift. The bearing shift likely led to the No. 4 rod bearing and endcaps to separate and resulted in a total loss of engine power.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.