Beech V35 N275BM incident near New Haven, Connecticut

Probable cause

The in-flight fatigue failure of the engine’s crankshaft, which resulted in the separation of the forward portion of the crankshaft and the propeller.

NTSB analysis

During the climb after takeoff, as the airplane approached 6,000 feet mean sea level, the crankshaft fractured, and the airplane experienced a total loss of engine power. The forward portion of the crankshaft, with the propeller attached, departed the engine. The pilot declared an emergency and returned to the departure airport where he performed a forced landing on a runway. The airplane sustained minor nose gear damage when it overran the runway. Examination of the crankshaft revealed that it was fractured across the No. 4 main journal. Metallurgical examination revealed cracks that initiated on the bearing surface near an oil transfer tube and propagated in fatigue.

At the time of the incident, the engine had been operated for about 910 total hours, about 500 hours of which had occurred since maintenance, which was performed about 2 1/2 years before the incident and included the reinstallation of the Nos. 2 and 4 cylinders. The crankcase adjacent to the fractured portion of the crankshaft showed significant fretting on the mating surfaces, possibly due to incorrect torque applied during the previous cylinder repair; however, the investigation could not determine the relevance of that repair, if any, due to the time that had elapsed since the repair was completed.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for ERA11IA521 for the full record.