Beech BE-35V accident near Bloomington, Indiana, February 27, 2000
On February 27, 2000 at about 4:45 pm local time, a Beech BE-35V, registered N6FN, was destroyed in an accident near Bloomington, Indiana. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the improper major overhaul of the engine by company maintenance personnel. The tree was a contributing factor.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 27, 2000 · about 4:45 pm local time
- Place
- Bloomington, Indiana · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech BE-35V
- Registration
- N6FN · no longer on the register · serial D8166
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane impacted a wooded area during a forced landing following a total loss of engine power. Examination of the engine revealed sealant was used on the cylinder bases and the cylinder base O-rings of the Teledyne Continental Motors (TCM) engine. A step was present at one of the thru bolt parting surfaces located at the cylinder base. The TCM overhaul manual, service bulletin and service letter do not specify the use of sealant on cylinder bases and cylinder base O-rings. Engine logbook records indicated that Blue Ash Aircraft Services performed a major overhaul of the Teledyne Continental IO-520-BA engine, serial number 249748-R, on March 24, 1998 at a tachometer time of 2,930.0 hours. Engine logbook records also indicated that a 100-hour inspection of the airplane was performed by the same maintenance facility on November 2, 1999 at a tachometer time of 3,668 hours. The tachometer at the accident site indicated 3,766.02 hours. The engine accumulated a total time since major overhaul of 836 hours.
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: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 642 hours in all; 97 in this make and model; 29 in the last 90 days; 11 in the last 30 days; 590 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,766 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, November 2, 1999; 98 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520-BA (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ISZ Blue Ash at 3:40 pm
- Destination: BMG IN
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 2,900 ft; clear
- Temperature: 46°F (8°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:53 pm from BMG, 10 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.