Saturday, January 07, 2023

Lewis Brant Barnes: Beechcraft M35 Bonanza, N673V, Fatal accident occurred January 06, 2023; Piper PA-32R-300, N5605V, Accident occurred October 14, 2013

National Transportation Safety Board - Accident Number: CEN23FA074 

Those who may have information that might be relevant to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigation may contact them by email witness@ntsb.gov, and any friends and family who want to contact investigators about the accident should email assistance@ntsb.gov. You can also call the NTSB Response Operations Center at 844-373-9922 or 202-314-6290.

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.

Mims Medical Group Inc



UPDATE: There was one occupant in the Beechcraft M35 Bonanza aircraft when it crashed off of N. Smokey Bear Road (WC 162).  Deceased is Lewis Brant Barnes (43) of Tontitown, Arkansas.  WCSO detectives are investigating.  The FAA has been notified.  Next of kin has been notified. 

Other agencies who responded -

Fayetteville Fire Department, Round Mountain Fire Department, Central EMS, Washington County Coroner’s Office.

Please keep the family in your prayers.

This evening, January 6, 2023, at approximately 5:57 pm, the Washington County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a plane crash in rural Washington County southeast of Fayetteville.  Deputies arrived on scene at 6:03 pm and located the crashed plane. 

-Washington County Sheriff's Office 

Brant Barnes 
~



Fatal accident occurred January 06, 2023 near  Fayetteville Municipal Airport (KFYV),  Washington County, Arkansas

The former owner of Papa John’s Pizza in Mountain Home was killed in a plane crash Friday evening in northwest Arkansas. According to a Facebook post from the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, 43-year-old Lewis Brant Barnes of Tontitown was the lone occupant of a Beech M35 fixed-wing, single-engine aircraft when it crashed off North Smokey Bear Road southeast of Fayetteville.

The sheriff’s office received a report of the plane crash in rural Washington County just before 6. Officials told television station KFSM a nearby property owner called for help after discovering the crash hundreds of yards away. Deputies reportedly arrived on scene a few minutes later and located the crashed plane. County detectives are investigating, and the Federal Aviation Administration has been notified.

Brant Barnes is the son of former Mountain Home Shelter Insurance agent Lewis Barnes and the brother of Gregory Jewelers owner Lori Gregory. The Mountain Home stores is one of nearly 10 Papa John’s Pizza he has co-owned throughout Arkansas, Missouri, Oklahoma and Mississippi. In 2018, he was featured in television advertisements as part of the chain’s national campaign to introduce a diverse group of individuals with different positions in the company around the world.

Brant Barnes was also a Shelter Insurance agent in Fayetteville. He, along with his father Lewis and Mountain Home Shelter Insurance agent Scott Tabor, provided 600 pizzas to front-line workers and those in need in Mountain Home during the early stages of the coronavirus pandemic in 2020. After Shelter Insurance decided to give agents $1,000 for their local communities, the elder Barnes and Tabor donated their funds to the Salvation Army in Mountain Home to feed those in need.

The Washington County Sheriff’s Office was assisted on the scene by the Fayetteville and Round Mountain fire departments, Central EMS and the Washington County Coroner’s Office.


Brant Barnes
~



FAYETTEVILLE, Arkansas — Emergency crews responded to a deadly plane crash in rural Fayetteville Friday evening.

According to officials with the Fayetteville Fire Department, crews were called to an area in the rural east side of town for an "aircraft emergency" on January 6. Officials say a property owner called for help just before 6 p.m. after discovering the crash hundreds of yards from their home. 

The Washington County Sheriff's Office (WCSO), Fayetteville Fire Department, Round Mountain Fire Department, Washington County Urban Search & Rescue and Central EMS all responded to the scene. 

Round Mountain Fire Chief Shane Wood told 5NEWS there was one person on board the plane at the time of the crash.

According to the WCSO, 43-year-old Lewis Brant Barnes of Tontitown, the pilot of the plane, was killed in the crash.

Washington County Detectives are investigating the crash and the FAA has been notified.

Wood believes the plane took off earlier from Drake Field went to Stuttgart Municipal Airport and was headed back to Drake Field when it crashed in a wooded area southeast of Drake Field.

The Washington County Sheriff's Office says there is a chemical hazard at the crash site due to fuel leaks.

Officials say the National Transportation and Safety Board (NTSB) is coming from Chicago and Little Rock to investigate the crash.


Brant Barnes
October 14, 2022

"8 years ago today!  What a ride life is!  Don’t let a little engine setback ruin your dreams!  Maybe get one with a parachute ha ha, learn from it, and get back out there.  To all those people who refuse to let failure and fear run their lives?  Alright, Alright, Alright, be a whole lot cooler if you did!!"


 October 14, 2013

 October 14, 2013

 October 14, 2013









Aviation Accident Final Report - National Transportation Safety Board

Investigator In Charge (IIC): Folkerts, Michael

Additional Participating Entity: 
Bill Adrich; Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Little Rock, Arkansas 

Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board:

Baxter Flying Inc


Location: Hector, Arkansas 
Accident Number: CEN14LA030
Date and Time: October 14, 2013, 17:00 Local
Registration: N5605V
Aircraft: Piper PA 32R-300 
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Loss of engine power (total)
Injuries: 2 Minor, 2 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal

Analysis

The pilot reported that, during climbout, he noticed that the engine was vibrating. After leveling off the airplane, the vibration worsened, and the engine subsequently experienced a total loss of power. The pilot executed a forced landing onto a road, and the airplane impacted a fence post.

Examination of the engine revealed that the crankshaft was fractured through the No. 8 cheek position between the Nos. 5 and 6 pistons. Fatigue cracking emanated from the connecting rod journal where the No. 5 connecting rod mates. The No. 6 piston cooling nozzle was not found in its position, and its pieces were found in the bottom of the sump; the pieces were more intact than would be expected if they had been ground between the crankshaft and connecting rod for an appreciable amount of time. Also, there was no evidence of a gouge or other mechanical damage on the No. 5 connecting rod journal. Based on this evidence, it is unlikely that the fatigue cracking was initiated by the No. 6 cooling nozzle being lodged against the crankshaft after falling out of position.

About 18 months before the accident, the engine was repaired and overhauled due to a propeller strike. Further, about 4 months before the accident, maintenance personnel performed a top overhaul of the engine, and, about 1 month before the accident, maintenance personnel replaced the No. 2 cylinder. The timing of the failure suggests that an imbalance could have been introduced to the engine during one or both of the maintenance procedures, which could have resulted in the initiation of the fatigue cracking and the subsequent falling out of the No. 6 cooling nozzle; however, the exact cause of the crankshaft fatigue cracking could not be determined.

Probable Cause and Findings

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:
An engine failure due to crankshaft fatigue cracking for reasons that could not be determined based on the available evidence.

Findings

Aircraft Recip engine power section - Failure
Aircraft Recip engine power section - Fatigue/wear/corrosion
Aircraft Recip engine power section - Incorrect service/maintenance

Factual Information

History of Flight

Enroute-cruise Loss of engine power (total) (Defining event)
Landing Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT)

On October 14, 2013, about 1700 central daylight time, a Piper PA-32R-300 airplane, N5605V, was substantially damaged during a forced landing near Hector, Arkansas. The two pilots received minor injuries and the two passengers were not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by Baxter Flying Incorporated under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which operated on an instrument flight rules flight plan. The flight originated from Fayetteville Executive Airport (FYV), Fayetteville, Arkansas about 1615 and was destined for Tunica Municipal Airport (UTA), Tunica, Mississippi.

According to the pilot, the engine was vibrating during the initial climb. After leveling the airplane at 9,000 feet mean sea level (MSL), the vibration worsened and the engine experienced a total loss of power. The pilot executed a forced landing onto a rural road, during which the right wing contacted a fence post.

The airplane was recovered to the facilities of Dawson Aircraft, Inc., near Clinton, Arkansas. The engine was subsequently removed and shipped to Mena Aircraft Engine, near Mena, Arkansas, for examination. During engine teardown, the crankshaft was observed to be fractured through the #8 cheek position, between the #5 and #6 pistons. The fatigue cracking emanated from the connecting rod journal, where the #5 connecting rod mates.

The #5 cylinder skirt was damaged, which prevented removal of the cylinder from the crank case. The #6 cylinder skirt was damaged, which made it difficult to remove from the crank case. The #3 piston had multiple abrasions on the piston skirt. The #1, #2, #4 pistons were removed without difficulty and had no anomalies. Several of the cam shaft tappet bodies (mushroom shaped) were fractured. Ferrous shavings were present in the oil sump and oil filter and the oil suction screen was completely blocked with metal shavings.

The #6 piston cooling nozzle was not in position and the cooling nozzle pieces were found in the bottom of the sump. These pieces of the cooling nozzle were relatively intact. The #2 and the #4 cooling nozzles were measured below their specified torques. #1 and #3 cooling nozzles were torqued correctly. Torque for the #5 cooling nozzle was not measured, since the #5 piston could not be removed from the crank case.

The crankshaft, attached counterweight, connecting rod journal bearing, and #6 piston oil cooling nozzle pieces were shipped to the National Transportation Safety Board materials laboratory for examination. The crankshaft's fracture surface was observed to have repeated crack arrest marks consistent with fatigue cracking.

No gouges or wear were observed at the fatigue cracking initiation area and no evidence of thermal distress was visible on the #5 connecting rod journal. No evidence of a gouge or other mechanical damage from a wedged piece of metal wearing against the crankshaft was observed on the #5 connecting rod journal.

The #5 connecting rod bearing had a 'M03' code stamped on the sides that indicated it mated with a ground or reworked crankshaft connecting rod journal. The measured dimensions of the mating #5 connecting rod journal met the requirements for the diameter expected following rework.

On April 20, 2012, the engine was repaired and overhauled following a propeller strike. After magnetic particle inspection of steel parts, replacement of several components and a test run, the engine was returned to service with the original crankshaft. On June 22, 2013, a top overhaul was performed, based on owner comments of a rough running engine that was using oil. On September 18, 2013, the #2 cylinder was honed and a new piston was installed, after a compression check revealed zero compression and a broken #2 piston ring.

Pilot Information

Certificate: Private Age: 34
Airplane Rating(s): Single-engine land 
Seat Occupied: Left
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None
Restraint Used: 3-point
Instrument Rating(s): None 
Second Pilot Present: Yes
Instructor Rating(s): None 
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: Class 3 Without waivers/limitations 
Last FAA Medical Exam: July 10, 2013
Occupational Pilot: No
Last Flight Review or Equivalent: June 14, 2012
Flight Time: (Estimated) 610 hours (Total, all aircraft), 198 hours (Total, this make and model), 610 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft), 42 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 18 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft), 1 hours (Last 24 hours, all aircraft)

Pilot Information

Certificate: Private Age: 67
Airplane Rating(s): Single-engine land; Multi-engine land
Seat Occupied: Right
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None 
Restraint Used: 3-point
Instrument Rating(s): Airplane 
Second Pilot Present: Yes
Instructor Rating(s): None 
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: Class 3 With waivers/limitations 
Last FAA Medical Exam: August 19, 2013
Occupational Pilot: No 
Last Flight Review or Equivalent:
Flight Time: (Estimated) 3784 hours (Total, all aircraft), 1424 hours (Total, this make and model), 3784 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft)

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: Piper
Registration: N5605V
Model/Series: PA 32R-300
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture: 1977 
Amateur Built:
Airworthiness Certificate: Normal
Serial Number: 32R-7780346
Landing Gear Type: Retractable - Tricycle
Seats: 6
Date/Type of Last Inspection: April 24, 2013 Annual
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 3600 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection: 
Engines: 1 Reciprocating
Airframe Total Time: 6948 Hrs as of last inspection 
Engine Manufacturer: Lycoming
ELT: Installed, not activated
Engine Model/Series: IO-540 K1G5D
Registered Owner: 
Rated Power: 300 Horsepower
Operator: 
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: Visual (VMC) 
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: KRUE,404 ft msl 
Distance from Accident Site: 14 Nautical Miles
Observation Time: 16:53 Local 
Direction from Accident Site: 204°
Lowest Cloud Condition: 11000 ft AGL 
Visibility 10 miles
Lowest Ceiling: Broken / 11000 ft AGL
Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: 5 knots / 
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual:  / None
Wind Direction: 
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual:  /
Altimeter Setting: 30.04 inches Hg 
Temperature/Dew Point: 22°C / 14°C
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: Fayetteville, AR (KFYV)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: IFR
Destination: Tunica, MS (KUTA)
Type of Clearance: IFR
Departure Time: 16:15 Local 
Type of Airspace: Class E

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 2 Minor 
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: 2 None
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A 
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 2 Minor, 2 None 
Latitude, Longitude: 35.463054,-92.979164 (est)

August 2022

August 2022

37 comments:

  1. Was the Bonanza a recent purchase? Was hangered at KCUB a few months ago. Nice looking plane. RIP

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  2. According to our local news, he was a really neat guy. He helped people change their lives. I did not know him but he certainly will be missed. RIP.

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  3. Seems like the plane might’ve just been purchased. Was listed for sale January 2nd.

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  4. Crash was about 6 PM when dark . Night single engine is dangerous . Sad to see successful businessmen fly singe engine at night .

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    Replies
    1. Used to do it a lot in a K35. It's not unsafe if you mitigate the risks properly. Keep training, make good maintenance the highest priority, proper ADM, etc OTOH, it ain't the brightest thing to do...

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  5. Last few minutes of track on Flight Aware shows plane level at 4400 them descending at about 350-500 Ft per min until 2400 ft then climb at 920 Ft per min on last track . Wonder if pilot saw terrain at night at last minute and climbed and stalled spun into black terrain .

    4 things many singje engine pilots don’t combine is Night , IFR , Ice and rough Terrain like mountains . Pilot was flying at night not sure if IFR , Ice or bad terrain .

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  6. Last few minutes of track on Flight Aware shows plane level at 4400 them descending at about 350-500 Ft per min until 2400 ft then climb at 920 Ft per min on last track . Wonder if pilot saw terrain at night at last minute and climbed and stalled spun into black terrain .

    4 things many single engine pilots don’t combine is Night , IFR , Ice and rough Terrain like mountains . Pilot was flying at night not sure if IFR , Ice or bad terrain .

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  7. I am wondering if the plane was borrowed from the dealer.

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    Replies
    1. Could have been a try before buy test flight. Dealer in Fayetteville.

      https://www.controller.com/listing/for-sale/218670169/1960-beechcraft-35-bonanza-piston-single-aircraft

      Had 172 hours on its factory re-manufactured engine.
      Engine Logbook:
      https://media.sandhills.com/doc.axd?id=8003576054&p=&ext=.pdf&dl=False&wt=False&checksum=1KY8xWKiD9MGL%2fEHyFwUdqtCffUuiX6ZValEO4hprgCYeN2KHBSAS3byQMRhRacHbGfLCMgqOlA%3d

      Airframe recent logbook:
      https://media.sandhills.com/doc.axd?id=8003576049&p=&ext=.pdf&dl=False&wt=False&checksum=1KY8xWKiD9Or9etgMxZPU4cSbsUNEWFBjVeHZoBhVTlXB7CghOfRwRo8ye1S4R9Nki2zaMbM4Ng%3d

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  8. This is so very shocking and sad! I just visited with him about a week ago. I met him at my workplace. He was always so kind and polite and had such a nice smile. He seemed like a great guy! No doubt he will be missed by his friends, his family, and all that knew him. Many prayers for his family!

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  9. One comment said plane was built in 1960. That is 62-63 years old. Why would insurance man risk fly a 62 year old single engine plane at night ?

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    Replies
    1. I wonder how many lives this site has saved by Pilots reading and heeding the knowledge and experience from others here...Spread the word about KR to all your friends...

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    2. Age of an airplane means virtually nothing. I just did a 3 year rebuild on my 1962 Cessna. All new glass panel, engine, prop, electrical system, fuel system, every cable, bearing, list goes on for pages.. it’s as close to new as you can get, yes even much of the actual airframe. I’ve seen many rebuilt older planes much nicer then 80’s and 90’s planes. Age means nothing, it’s how it was maintained

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  10. Someone said plane was making high speed descent at time of crash .

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  11. Last ADS-B @2352Z = Local 5:53PM.
    Sunset was 5:17PM, Civil twilight ended 5:45PM.
    Drake Field wx:
    KFYV 062353Z 15003KT 10SM CLR 12/M01 A3002

    Track:
    https://globe.adsbexchange.com/?icao=a8e8b8&lat=35.991&lon=-94.104&zoom=14.6&showTrace=2023-01-06&trackLabels
    Last captured ADS-B data point location:
    http://maps.google.com/maps?t=k&q=loc:35.991+-94.106

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  12. If the MVP-50 Engine data monitor didn't get destroyed, it records each flight and will be useful to the investigation.

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  13. It seems as though this happens every few years or so around KFYV. Even though it was once a commercial airport, the immediate surrounding terrain is 300 to 700 feet higher than the airport. As a passenger flying into and out of that airport numerous times, I can attest to the fact that it requires a fairly steep takeoff and approach.

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  14. Wonder why there is no report on KR about the R44 WBTV helicopter crash in Charlotte NC on Nov 22, 2022 with 2 fatalities

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    Replies
    1. Take a look and you will see quite a gap in the accidents covered since October. I can’t complain … this site is free and requires a tremendous amount of work.

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    2. I agree KR site is appreciated

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  15. 2 different accidents. The blog posts are grouped by aircraft, so this aircraft has two entries on one post. The latest was a fatal.

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  16. How did he own multiple papa johns? was it from the insurance business that let me get into the pizza business? If true, I didn't realize insurance business can be lucrative.

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    Replies
    1. The insurance business in general is VERY VERY lucrative.

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    2. Insurance business is probably right up there with running a casino. They've done the math and made sure that the house always wins.

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  17. Airborne selfies of pizza and lasagna - more general aviation accidents/fatalities to come for sure. Incomprehensible. The local FSDO should be notified.

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    Replies
    1. I'm sure the FSDO will be interested in reporting and the FAA pulling the "deceased" pilots' ticket for flying while eating pizza. I guess that would be the well-known statute of... FWEP. Geez.🍕

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    2. The FSDO would see that "NAV" and "ALT" modes are active in the S-Tec 55X Autopilot's display, easily visible in the August 2022 photos. The FSDO would know from the photo detail that the person who reported the inflight snack as "incomprehensible" isn't knowledgeable.

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    3. GA pilots think airplanes are toys. Professional pilots know airplanes are tools. There is a center position of toy/tool such as aerobatic training, but selfies, the "mile-high-club" and other acts are the reason the Reg's are written in blood.

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  18. As a cirrus pilot and seeing the photos above him clearly flying a cirrus at one point I wonder why he gave up the parachute option for single engine night flying. I’m selling my SR20 and considered a bonanza but ended up with an SR22 as I’m not willing to fly at night single engine without a chute.

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    Replies
    1. Sane thought here … why go backwards?

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    2. The Cirrus in his August 2022 photos is N7QE, registered to an LLC that lists the accident pilot as the agent. The LLC also has another Cirrus, N5953 registered.

      His LLC name is "Air Traders LLC". The accident Bonanza was currently listed for sale at his home field at the time of the accident. He was flying the Bo while still owning the two Cirrus, perhaps connected to the ongoing Bo sale efforts.

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    3. I am the daughter of the deceased. The plane he crashed in was borrowed from a friend. His 2 engine with a parachute was undergoing routine maintenence.
      He borrowed the plane to give a friend a ride. He was probably meaning to land before dark. He was successful in business because he was a risk taker.

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    4. Very, very sorry for your loss. Your father seemed a genuinely good man.

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