Accident Bensen B8 UNREG, Friday 3 September 1993

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Date:	Friday 3 September 1993
Time:	17:27 LT
Type:	Bensen B8
Owner/operator:	Private
Registration:	UNREG
MSN:
Engine model:	MCCULLOCH 4318
Fatalities:	Fatalities: / Occupants: 1
Other fatalities:	0
Aircraft damage:	Destroyed
Category:	Accident
Location:	Aurora, CO - United States of America
Phase:	En route
Nature:	Private
Departure airport:	Watkins, CO (KFTG)
Destination airport:
Investigating agency:	NTSB
Confidence Rating:	Accident investigation report completed and information captured

Narrative:
THE AIRCRAFT WAS SEEN FLYING BETWEEN 300 AND 400 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND WHEN, ACCORDING TO A WITNESS, IT SUDDENLY 'ROLLED RIGHT, NEARLY INVERTED, AND DESCENDED APPROXIMATELY 80 DEGREES NOSE DOWN.' SEVERAL DEEP GOUGES AND A SCRAPE MARK WERE NOTED ATOP THE ENGINE CRANKCASE, DIRECTLY BENEATH THE CENTER ENGINE MOUNTING BOLT. THE ENGINE MOUNT WAS FRACTURED. THIS FRACTURE, ACCORDING TO A METALLURGIST, WAS DUE TO FATIGUE. THE REMAINING FRACTURES WERE DUE TO OVERLOAD. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF FLIGHT CONTROL MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE.

Probable Cause: FATIGUE FAILURE OF THE CENTER ENGINE MOUNT THAT ALTERED THE THRUST AND LIFT VECTORS.

Accident investigation: