Amateur-built 300S accident near Chandler, Arizona, May 28, 1994
On May 28, 1994, a amateur-built 300S, registered N791S, was substantially damaged in an accident near Chandler, Arizona. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE OPERATION OF THE ENGINE AT AN RPM SETTING THAT EXCEEDED THE ORIGINAL DESIGN SPECIFICATIONS AND RESULTED IN THE FAILURE OF THE NO. 5 CONNECTING ROD BEARING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 28, 1994
- Place
- Chandler, Arizona · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built 300S
- Registration
- N791S · registry record · serial 007
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot had completed a practice acrobatic sequence when she said she heard the engine begin to 'lug.' She noted the engine oil pressure gauge was reading between 20 to 40 psi with the aircraft at full power, then almost immediately dropped to zero. The pilot selected an area for a forced landing, but as she neared the ground she said the area did not look as flat as it had initially. The pilot said that since the aircraft continued to lose power, she was committed to land. During the landing roll, the aircraft struck a berm damaging the landing gear, wings, and propeller. An internal examination of the crankcase revealed that the No. 5 connecting rod bearing had failed, although the connecting rod still remained attached to the crankshaft. The data plate indicated that the engine installed is rated for 290 hp at 2,575 rpm's. The aircraft's mechanic reported that the engine rpm was set for 2,700 rpm's.
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: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,331 hours in all; 287 in this make and model; 25 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 1,206 as pilot in command; 244 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 335 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 6, 1994; 38 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,650 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 18,000 ft; not recorded at 18,000 ft
- Temperature: 95°F (35°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.