Beech A45 accident near Lagrange, Georgia, July 16, 2004
On July 16, 2004 at about 2:33 pm local time, a Beech A45, registered N134BH, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lagrange, Georgia (Lagrange-Callaway airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The maintenance personnel under-torquing of the crankcase throughbolts during top overhaul, which resulted in crankcase fretting, and the subsequent fatigue failure of the crankshaft at the No. 4 main journal. A factor was the lack of suitable terrain for forced landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 16, 2004 · about 2:33 pm local time
- Place
- Lagrange, Georgia · Lagrange-Callaway · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech A45 · all A45s on the register
- Registration
- N134BH · registry record · serial G-792
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated that, while in cruise flight at 7,500 feet, the engine vibrated severely, and the propeller separated. The airplane collided with trees during emergency landing, and the propeller was not located. Examination of the engine revealed the crankshaft was fractured forward of the alternator drive gear. Examination of the fracture surface at the crankshaft separation revealed features consistent with fatigue fracture under torsional loading. Blue tinting was visible near the middle of the No. 4 main journal. Several ladder cracks were observed on the No. 4 main journal surface adjacent to the blue-tinted region. A large crack in the No. 4 main journal surface continued forward through the alternator drive gear and to the exposed fatigue fracture at the crankshaft separation. Scanning Electron Microscope examination of the crack revealed crack arrest lines and marks emanated from an area at the journal surface; the fracture surface within the origin area displayed an appearance consistent with an overstress fracture. Hardness testing of the material revealed no evidence of anomaly. According to the maintenance logs, the Continental IO-520-B2 engine received a field major overhaul on October 10, 1974. The engine received a top overhaul on July 1, 2002, at an hour meter reading of 1000.0. The hour meter reading on the airplane at the accident site was 1053.7. According to Teledyne Continental Service Information Letter SIL98-9A, the recommended time between overhaul (TBO) periods for the IO-520-B series engine is 1700 operating hours or 12 years, whichever occurs first.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 5,638 hours in all; 601 in this make and model; 72 in the last 90 days; 32 in the last 30 days; 5,638 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: February 2, 2004
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,553.7 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 3, 2003; 18 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520-B2 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KRNC Mcminnville TN at 1:20 pm
- Destination: KEVB New Smyrna Bch FL
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 130° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.97 inHg
- Observation at 2:40 pm from KLGC, 8 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.