HERNDON, VA, USA
N969H
BEECH 35-B33
FOLLOWING AN ENGINE FAILURE, THE PILOT HAD A LIMITED CHOICE OF TERRAIN FOR LANDING. HE LANDED HARD AND SLID INTO TREES. A METALLURGICAL EXAMINATION REVEALED THAT THE SHAFT ON THE ENGINE OIL PUMP DRIVE GEAR, PN 538609, HAD FAILED FROM FATIGUE. EVIDENCE OF HEAVY WEAR OF THE SHAFT WAS FOUND WHICH COINCIDED WITH A FOREIGN METALLIC SMEAR (ALUMINUM) ON THE SURFACE OF THE OIL REVEALED NO CONTAMINATION. AN EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE LOG REVEALED THAT THE ENGINE HAD RECEIVED MAJOR REPAIR ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, ONCE FOR A BROKEN PISTON.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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