NTSB Identification: CEN12LA501
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Wednesday, August 01, 2012 in Holly Lake Ranch, TX
Probable Cause Approval Date: 11/06/2013
Aircraft: BEECH H35, registration: N4684D
Injuries: 1 Serious.
NTSB investigators may not have traveled in support of this investigation and used data provided by various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.
The airplane’s engine lost power during the descent to the destination airport, and the airplane struck trees during the ensuing forced landing attempt. A postaccident examination of the engine revealed that the idler gear pin was not in position and no retaining bolts were found. Additionally, the nuts from the forward left, lower through bolt on the crankcase half and the forward left engine mount bolt were missing. A logbook entry indicated that the engine had been reassembled and re-installed on the airplane about 1 week before the accident due to a previous propeller strike. Based on the available information, it is likely that the improper assembly of the engine, specifically the omission of the idler gear pin retaining bolts, resulted in the idler gear falling out of its position and a subsequent complete loss of engine power.
The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:
The incomplete maintenance performed by maintenance personnel, which resulted in a total loss of engine power.
On August 1, 2012, about 1120 central daylight time, a Beech H35 airplane, N4684D, sustained substantial damage when it struck trees following a loss of engine power near Holly Lake Ranch, Texas. The pilot received serious injuries. The aircraft was registered to an individual and operated by the pilot under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a business flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which was not operated on a flight plan. The flight originated from the Wood County Airport (JDD), Mineola, Texas, about 1100, and was destined for the Gilmer Municipal Airport (JXI), Gilmer, Texas.
The pilot reported that he performed a pre-flight run-up with no anomalies noted. He then departed JDD and climbed to 7,500 feet altitude en route to JXI. During the descent to JXI, at 6,500 feet altitude, the engine experienced a total loss of engine power. The pilot reported that he turned the airplane toward the Holly Lake Ranch Airport (16TE), and attempted an engine restart to no avail. The airplane struck trees off the end of runway 27 at 16TE.
Examination of the airplane’s engine after recovery from the accident scene revealed that the idler gear pin was missing from the rear of the engine, and both nuts and washers were missing from the idler gear pin attachment studs. The idler gear pin was found in a plastic trash bag that contained smaller parts recovered from the wreckage site. The idler gear had fallen in to the rear crankshaft gear and damaged the rear crankshaft gear teeth. The nut was missing from the forward left side lower through bolt on the crankcase half. The nut was also missing from the forward left side engine mount bolt.
Examination of the maintenance records revealed a piece of paper attached to the log book indicating that the engine was disassembled and inspected after a propeller strike. The crankshaft was turned 0.010 inches undersize and the engine was re assembled. The entry was dated July 25, 2012 and was signed by the pilot, who also held a mechanic certificate with airframe and powerplant ratings issued by the Federal Aviation Administration.
According to manufacturer drawings, the aft crankshaft gear engaged the idler gear which in turn engaged both magneto drive gears. Without the idler gear in place the magnetos would cease to operate.
NTSB Identification: CEN12LA501
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Wednesday, August 01, 2012 in Holly Lake Ranch, TX
Aircraft: BEECH H35, registration: N4684D
Injuries: 1 Serious.
This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed.
On August 1, 2012, about 1120 central daylight time, a Beech H35, N4684D, sustained substantial damage when it struck trees following a loss of engine power near Holly Lake Ranch, Texas. The pilot received serious injuries. The aircraft was registered to an individual and operated by the pilot under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a business flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which was not operated on a flight plan. The flight originated from the Wood County Airport (JDD), Mineola, Texas, at an unconfirmed time, and was destined for the Gilmer Municipal Airport (JXI), Gilmer, Texas.
IDENTIFICATION
Regis#: 4684D Make/Model: BE35 Description: 35 Bonanza
Date: 08/01/2012 Time: 1164
Event Type: Accident Highest Injury: Serious Mid Air: N Missing: N
Damage: Destroyed
LOCATION
City: TYLER State: TX Country: US
DESCRIPTION
AIRCRAFT CLIPPED TREES, FLIPPED OVER AND CRASHED INTO A WOODED AREA, NEAR
TYLER, TX
INJURY DATA Total Fatal: 0
# Crew: 1 Fat: 0 Ser: 1 Min: 0 Unk:
# Pass: 0 Fat: 0 Ser: 0 Min: 0 Unk:
# Grnd: Fat: 0 Ser: 0 Min: 0 Unk:
OTHER DATA
Activity: Pleasure Phase: Unknown Operation: OTHER
FAA FSDO: , (0) Entry date: 08/02/2012
A single-engine plane crashed near the Holly Lake Ranch Airport in Wood County, Wednesday afternoon.
Wood County Airport officials said a single-engine Beechcraft Bonanza aircraft suffered engine problems during a test flight.
The plane is registered to Adam Smith of Lindale. Smith was reportedly having a new engine installed in the four-seater airplane and the mechanic, also a pilot, was taking the aircraft back to the Gilmer Airport from the Wood County Airport.
The plane crashed about 75 feet short of the runway at the Holly Lake Ranch airport around noon. The plane reportedly clipped a couple of trees and flipped over before coming to a complete stop in a heavily wooded area just off Blue Sky Lane.
It did not catch on fire, but the Holly Lake Volunteer Fire Department cleared the brushy area and waited on the scene for the appropriate authorities.
Witnesses reported the engine of the plane was running when it crashed, but sounded like it was “running rough”.
The mechanic/pilot was pulled from the aircraft by Holly Lake Firefighters and Champion EMS personnel.
He was transported to a Longview hospital with minor injuries. Officials would not release the name of the pilot however did say they believe he will be ok.
DPS Trooper Tommy Barrett was dispatched to the crash site. An FAA investigator from Dallas is on the scene and investigating the crash, but would not comment on the possible cause of the accident.
http://www.news-journal.com
WOOD COUNTY, TX (KLTV) - A single-engine plane crashed in East Texas late Wednesday morning.
Officials with the Department of Public Safety say a single-engine Beechcraft aircraft suffered engine problems during its flight from the Wood County Airport in Mineola to the Gilmer Airport. Investigating officers on the scene say the plane began to experience engine trouble, prompting the pilot to circle back towards the airport at Holly Lake Ranch. The plane lost altitude and struck several trees before coming to rest on its canopy.
The plane crashed in a wooded area on Blue Sky Lane, off of CR 3590, just outside of the Holly Lake Ranch airport. The pilot was pulled from the aircraft by Holly Lake Firefighters and EMS personnel. He was taken to Longview Regional Medical Center; the extent of injuries is unknown at this time.
The plane is registered to a Lindale man, but officials on the scene say the pilot is from Gilmer. The Federal Aviation Administration has taken over the investigation.
Read more, video and photos: KLTV.com
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