Amateur-built BD-5B accident near Fresno, California, May 9, 1992
On May 9, 1992 at about 10:15 pm local time, a amateur-built BD-5B, registered N811Q, was substantially damaged in an accident near Fresno, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DURING INITIAL CLIMB DUE TO A FRACTURE AND FAILURE OF THE ENGINE STARTER RING GEAR. A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR WHICH WAS RELATED TO THE MECHANICAL FAILURE WAS THE AIRPLANE OWNER'S INADEQUATE MAINTENANCE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 9, 1992 · about 10:15 pm local time
- Place
- Fresno, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built BD-5B
- Registration
- N811Q · no longer on the register · serial 3239
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE EXPERIMENTAL AIRPLANE WAS OWNED AND OPERATED BY THE PILOT. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE EXPERIENCED A TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER AT ABOUT 200 FEET ABOVE GROUND LEVEL DURING INITIAL CLIMB. THE PILOT MADE A FORCED LANDING AND COLLIDED WITH A BERM. AN EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE REVEALED ITS STARTER RING GEAR HAD FAILED WHERE IT HAD BEEN WELDED TO THE ENGINE FLYWHEEL (FLEXPLATE).
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 18,328 hours in all; 66 in the last 90 days; 32 in the last 30 days; 18,314 as pilot in command; 10,000 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 890 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Honda EB-3 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: MAE Madera CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.