Additional Participating Entities:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Boston, Massachusetts
Continental Motors Inc.; Mobile, Alabama
Aviation Accident Factual Report - National Transportation Safety Board: https://app.ntsb.gov/pdf
Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board: https://dms.ntsb.gov/pubdms
Aviation Accident Factual Report - National Transportation Safety Board
Location: Westerly, RI
Accident Number: ERA16LA217
Date & Time: 06/18/2016, 1235 EDT
Registration: N112MB
Aircraft: BEECH P35
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Loss of engine power (total)
Injuries: 1 Minor
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Personal
On June 18, 2016, about 1235 eastern daylight time, a Beech P35 airplane, N112MB, ditched in Block Island Sound after a total loss of engine power near Westerly, Rhode Island. The private pilot received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a visual flight rules flight plan was filed, but not activated, for the personal flight. The airplane was owned and operated by the pilot and the flight was conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The flight originated from Francis S. Gabreski Airport (FOK), Westhampton Beach, New York, with an intended destination of Taunton Municipal Airport (TAN), Taunton, Massachusetts.
In an interview with a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Inspector, the pilot stated that while en route, he attempted to reduce the manifold pressure, however it did not respond. Next, he heard a "loud bang," followed by oil covering the windscreen of the airplane, and the engine lost total power. Furthermore, the pilot reported that the propeller rpm "was all over the place" prior to the total loss of engine power. He ditched about 2 miles west of Westerly State Airport (WST), Westerly, Rhode Island. After landing in the water, the pilot egressed without incident, and the airplane sank.
The airplane was recovered and an examination revealed that the wings, empennage, and fuselage sustained substantial damage during the accident sequence. In addition, a hole was noted in the top of the engine crankcase.
According to FAA records, the airplane was manufactured in 1962 and was powered by a 260-hp Continental Motors, Inc., IO-470-N21B reciprocating engine. The airplane's most recent annual inspection was completed on December 29, 2015, at a recorded tachometer reading of 2,812 hours, airframe total time of 5,186 hours, and engine time since major overhaul of 99 hours. The pilot indicated that, at the time of the accident, the engine had accumulated 109 hours of engine time since major overhaul.
The engine was equipped with an F&M Enterprises Inc. (model C6LC-L) oil filter adapter, which was not original equipment, but could be installed on the engine under FAA Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) number SE09356SC. The oil filter adapter installation was completed on December 1, 2011, which was the same time as the engine overhaul. A review of the oil filter adapter manufacturer's installation instructions revealed that, during installation, the oil filter adapter body was torqued to 65 ft lbs, and it should be retorqued after 10 hours of operation. The oil filter adapter required one fiber gasket and one copper crush gasket to be used in the installation. In addition, manufacturing guidance indicated that at each annual inspection or 100-hour inspection, the mechanic was to inspect the oil filter adapter for oil seepage, the safety wire, the security of the adapter, and record the results of the inspections in the logbook.
Maintenance guidance for the oil filter adapter included instructions for replacing the gaskets anytime the oil filter adapter was removed from the engine and reinstalled, and at 300 hours or 3 years, whichever occurred first. The most recent maintenance on the oil filter adapter recorded in the engine logbook was completed on August 25, 2012, at an engine time since major overhaul of 40 hours.
An examination of the engine revealed that the oil filter adapter tightening break away torque was 13.58 ft lbs and the loosening torque was less than 13.33 ft lbs, as the torque wrench would not register any lower torque. Furthermore, the fiber gasket located between the adapter and the engine was torn and partially extruded from the adapter. The oil filter adapter was removed and the fiber gasket was removed. The fiber gasket was torn in one location and the crush deformation not symmetrical around the gasket. In addition, the Nos. 2 and 4 connecting rods had separated from the crankshaft. All connecting rod journals exhibited thermal damage and signatures consistent with lubrication distress.
Pilot Information
Certificate: Private
Age: 62, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Single-engine Land
Seat Occupied: Left
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None
Restraint Used: Lap Only
Instrument Rating(s): Airplane
Second Pilot Present: No
Instructor Rating(s): None
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: Class 3 With Waivers/Limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: 08/14/2014
Occupational Pilot: No
Last Flight Review or Equivalent:
Flight Time: 664 hours (Total, all aircraft), 222 hours (Total, this make and model), 525 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft), 10 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft)
Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information
Aircraft Manufacturer: BEECH
Registration: N112MB
Model/Series: P35 NO SERIES
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture: 1962
Amateur Built: No
Airworthiness Certificate: Utility
Serial Number: D-6945
Landing Gear Type: Retractable - Tricycle
Seats: 4
Date/Type of Last Inspection: 12/29/2015, Annual
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 3128 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection: 10 Hours
Engines: 1 Reciprocating
Airframe Total Time: 5186 Hours as of last inspection
Engine Manufacturer: Continental Motors Inc.
ELT: Installed, not activated
Engine Model/Series: IO-470-N21B
Registered Owner: On file
Rated Power: 260 hp
Operator: On file
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None
Meteorological Information and Flight Plan
Conditions at Accident Site: Visual Conditions
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: WST, 81 ft msl
Observation Time: 1253 EDT
Distance from Accident Site: 2 Nautical Miles
Direction from Accident Site: 14°
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear
Temperature/Dew Point: 25°C / 10°C
Lowest Ceiling: None
Visibility: 10 Miles
Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: 8 knots, 170°
Visibility (RVR):
Altimeter Setting: 30.24 inches Hg
Visibility (RVV):
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: WESTHAMPTON BEACH, NY (FOK)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: VFR
Destination: TAUNTON, MA (TAN)
Type of Clearance: None
Departure Time: 1230 EDT
Type of Airspace:
Airport Information
Airport: WESTERLY STATE (WST)
Runway Surface Type: Water
Airport Elevation: 81 ft
Runway Surface Condition: Water--choppy
Runway Used: N/A
IFR Approach: None
Runway Length/Width:
VFR Approach/Landing: Forced Landing
Wreckage and Impact Information
Crew Injuries: 1 Minor
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 1 Minor
Latitude, Longitude: 41.319444, -71.809167 (est)
http://registry.faa.gov/N112MB
NTSB Identification: ERA16LA217
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Saturday, June 18, 2016 in Westerly, RI
Aircraft: BEECH P35, registration: N112MB
Injuries: 1 Minor.
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. NTSB investigators may not have traveled in support of this investigation and used data provided by various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.
On June 18, 2016, about 1235 eastern daylight time, a Beech P35, N112MB, performed a forced landing to the ocean after a total loss of engine power near Westerly, Rhode Island. The private pilot received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight. The airplane was owned and operated by the pilot and the flight was conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The flight originated from Francis S. Gabreski Airport (FOK), Westhampton Beach, New York, with an intended destination of Taunton Municipal Airport (TAN), Taunton, Massachusetts.
In an interview with a Federal Aviation Administration Inspector, the pilot stated that while enroute, he attempted to reduce the manifold pressure, however it did not respond. Next he heard a "loud bang," oil covered the windscreen of the airplane, and the engine lost total power. Furthermore, the pilot reported that the propeller rpm "was all over the place" prior to the total loss of engine power. He performed a forced landing to the ocean about 3 miles west of Westerly State Airport (WST), Westerly, Rhode Island. After landing in the water, the pilot egressed without incident, and the airplane sank.
The airplane was recovered and a postaccident examination revealed that the wings, empennage, and fuselage sustained substantial damage during the accident sequence. In addition, a hole was noted in the top of the engine crankcase. The engine was retained for further examination.
WESTERLY — A single-engine plane en route from Long Island to Taunton, Mass., crashed off the coast of Weekapaug Saturday afternoon and the pilot was rescued by two lifeguards.
Aaron Perkins, Weekapaug Fire District lieutenant and lifeguard supervisor, said that the plane hit the water about 200 feet off what is known as Inn Beach, located on Spray Rock Road at 12:30 p.m.
Perkins said that two lifeguards, Curt Dumas and David Darling, responded immediately: One paddled out to the plane and the other swam, each with his emergency equipment.
“The pilot was trying to climb out the plane and the two lifeguards helped him,” Perkins said. “They helped him onto the surfboard and paddled him in.”
Officials said that the pilot, Alexander Piekarski, 62, of East Moriches, N.Y., was taken to Rhode Island Hospital in Providence with non-life threatening injuries. In a statement, Cpl. Stephen Vanner of the State Police Hope Valley Barracks said that Piekarski was flying alone in a four-seat Beech Craft Bonanza, and that an initial investigation indicated that the aircraft lost power while flying over open water.
“The pilot made an attempt to head toward the Westerly airport but as a result of a loss in altitude, he elected to make an emergency landing into the water to avoid people on the beach,” Vanner reported.
Perkins said, “Fortunately no one was injured on the ground. Where the plane crashed, the water is about 15 to 20 feet deep at low tide.”
Perkins also commented that the lifeguards followed emergency procedures perfectly and worked together as a team.
“I’ve been a lifeguard for 24 years and I have to say that the lifeguards were truly heroes,” he said. “David Darling is 18 and this is his first day on the job and Curt is a 15-year veteran lifeguard and emergency medical technician.”
The Coast Guard was alerted at 12:39 p.m. but when they arrived at 12:59 p.m., the pilot was already on shore, the lieutenant said.
The plane remains submerged in front of Inn Beach. Members of the Uniform Division at the Hope Valley Barracks, along with the Westerly Police, state Department of Environmental Management, U.S. Coast Guard, and the Rhode Island Airport Corporation investigated the crash, officials said.
A State Police press release said that the state aeronautics inspector along with the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board would inspect the aircraft once it is removed from the waters.
Original article can be found here: http://www.thewesterlysun.com
Video of pilot being rescued by lifeguards at Weekapaug Beach: https://twitter.com/lfschwartz
WESTERLY, R.I. (WPRI) – A man has been rescued after his small plane crashed into the sea off Westerly.
It happened at about 12:45 Saturday afternoon close to the beach off Spray Rock Road.
According to the Coast Guard, nearby lifeguards saw the plane go down and jumped into the water to assist; they got the pilot out of the plane and got him to shore, where local firefighters took him to the hospital.
The plane has sunk and the Coast Guard is checking the site to see if it poses a threat to navigation in the area, and monitoring for any fuel spill.
Original article can be found here: http://wpri.com
A small plane made a crash landing off Weekapaug Beach in Westerly shortly before 1:30 p.m.
Emergency crews arrived on scene shortly after the crash.
The pilot was able to make it out of the plane safely according to reports from the scene.
There was no immediate word where the plane was coming from or heading to.
Emergency crews arrived on scene shortly after the crash.
The pilot was able to make it out of the plane safely according to reports from the scene.
There was no immediate word where the plane was coming from or heading to.
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