Tuesday, September 22, 2020

Boeing E75 Stearman Kaydet, N1524M: Accident occurred September 21, 2020 in Honea Path, Anderson County, South Carolina

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.

The National Transportation Safety Board did not travel to the scene of this accident. 

Additional Participating Entity:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Columbia, South Carolina

https://registry.faa.gov/N1524M

Location: Honea Path, SC
Accident Number: ERA20LA326
Date & Time: September 21, 2020, 19:49 Local 
Registration: N1524M
Aircraft: Stearman E75
Injuries: 1 Serious, 1 Minor
Flight Conducted Under:

On September 21, 2020, about 1949 eastern daylight time, a Stearman E75, N1524M, was involved in an accident in Honea Path, South Carolina. The private pilot and his airline transport pilot-rated student were seriously injured. The flight was conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.

The pilot and his passenger were interviewed by Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) aviation safety inspectors, and their versions of events were consistent throughout. According to the pilot, he performed the takeoff and a few minutes into the flight he saw a “puff of smoke” and watched as a “jug” passed by the cockpit. He said the engine experienced a “50%” loss of engine power, which surprised him.

The passenger estimated the airplane was 1,000 ft- 1,100 ft altitude when he heard “a pop, then saw something went up in the air.” He added that he made a video recording of the flight and provided it to the FAA.

Examination of the video revealed a shallow, continuous climb at 70 mph, at 2,500 rpm. The sound of the engine was smooth and continuous when the recorder was held inside the open cockpit. As the passenger recorded the view outside the airplane, the wind noise overcame the soundtrack.

The sound of the engine became quieter, the tachometer showed a continuous 1,000 rpm reading, and one of the occupants could be heard to say “…I heard that” as the airplane maneuvered over open fields as it descended. The recording ended before the airplane was destroyed by contact with trees and terrain.

Examination of photographs revealed a separated cylinder that was recovered and returned to the wreckage by an unknown person. The connecting rod was bent and remained attached to the crankshaft, but the piston was not recovered. All cylinder attachment/mounting studs were fractured. Photographs of the fracture surfaces examined by the Chief of the NTSB Materials Laboratory revealed fractures
consistent with fatigue on multiple studs.

The airplane was recovered to an aircraft recovery facility where it was retained for further examination.

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: Stearman Registration: N1524M
Model/Series: E75 Undesignated
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Amateur Built: No
Operator: 
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None
Operator Designator Code:

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: VMC
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: KAND,773 ft msl 
Observation Time: 19:56 Local
Distance from Accident Site: 18 Nautical Miles
Temperature/Dew Point: 16°C /8°C
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear
Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: 5 knots / , 60°
Lowest Ceiling: 
Visibility: 10 miles
Altimeter Setting: 30.34 inches Hg
Type of Flight Plan Filed:
Departure Point:
Destination:

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 Minor 
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: 1 Serious 
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: 
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 1 Serious, 1 Minor 
Latitude, Longitude: 34.443611,-82.356389 (est)

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