General Aviation Accident Bulletin, July 24, 2023

AVweb's General Aviation Accident Bulletin is taken from the pages of our sister publication, Aviation Safety magazine. All the reports listed here are preliminary and include only initial factual findings about crashes. You can learn more about the final probable cause on the NTSB's website at www.ntsb.gov. Final reports appear about a year after the accident, although some take longer. Find out more about Aviation Safety at www.aviationsafetymagazine.com.

At about 1937 Mountain time, the airplane was substantially damaged in an off-field landing following engine failure. The solo pilot was not injured. Visual conditions prevailed.

Earlier, an engine condition inspection revealed particles in the oil screen. After consulting a mechanic, the pilot decided to continue flying the airplane and closely monitor the engine. About 15 minutes into a local flight, the pilot noticed a burning odor when he activated the heater, turned back toward the departure airport and then noticed a vibration, followed about a minute later by a “sudden shudder” and then observed oil covering the windshield. The engine subsequently lost power. The pilot had no forward visibility due to the oil ob-structing the windscreen. The airplane landed in a field, flipped over and came to rest inverted.

The airplane was substantially damaged at about 1613 Eastern time when it entered the engineered materials arresting system (EMAS) after a runway overrun. The airline transport pilot and six passengers were not injured. Visual conditions prevailed for the FAR Part 135 on-demand air taxi flight.

The flight departed Nassau, Bahamas, at about 1450 and flew under VFR to Fort Lauderdale. The pilot later reported he was attempting to land on Runway 10R, which was 8000 feet long, and that the airplane touched down on the wet runway about midfield. The left brake “did not work” and he did not want to apply too much right brake and lose directional control. The airplane subsequently traveled off the end of the runway and into the EMAS, where it came to rest upright.

According to ATC, the airplane approached Runway 10R and flew right traffic at about 140 knots groundspeed. A controller reported the airplane touched down on the wet runway with approximately 1600 feet remaining.

At about 1440 Eastern time, the airplane was substantially damaged during an off-field landing following engine failure. The solo pilot was seriously injured. Visual conditions prevailed.

The pilot was conducting practice approaches. Shortly after receiving an approach clearance, he heard a “boom” from the propeller hub, which immediately began to shudder violently and oscillate in a semi-oval pattern. Engine oil coated the windshield and impaired forward visibility. The pilot opted to leave the landing gear retracted. The airplane and touched down in an area of cut trees, and then slid approximately 100 feet into a marsh.

This article originally appeared in the July 2023 issue of Aviation Safety magazine.

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