Amateur-built BD-5B accident near Gilford, New Hampshire, August 3, 1991
On August 3, 1991 at about 11:55 am local time, a amateur-built BD-5B, registered N245BD, was substantially damaged in an accident near Gilford, New Hampshire (Laconia airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO A FAULTY OIL PRESSURE RELIEF VALVE RESULTING IN AN EMERGENCY LANDING ON UNSUITABLE TERRAIN.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 3, 1991 · about 11:55 am local time
- Place
- Gilford, New Hampshire · Laconia
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built BD-5B
- Registration
- N245BD · registry record · serial 3514
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT LOST POWER AFTER TAKEOFF AND MADE A FORCED LANDING ON A ROAD. JUST PRIOR TO TOUCHDOWN, A CAR PULLED INTO THE PLANNED LANDING AREA AND THE PILOT INTENTIONALLY PULLED UP TO AVOID THE CAR. THE AIRPLANE STALLED AND HIT THE ROAD HARD, COLLAPSING THE LANDING GEAR. POST CRASH EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE DISCLOSED AN OIL PRESSURE RELIEF VALVE USED TO LUBRICATE ONE OF THE CYLINDERS WAS RELEASING AT TOO HIGH A PRESSURE TO ADEQUATELY LUBRICATE THE CYLINDER WHICH RESULTED IN A STOPPED ENGINE.
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
- Flight time: 4,300 hours in all; 1 in the last 90 days; 3,800 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 40 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, September 7, 1990; 15 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 860 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Polaris EC65PL01 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LCI at 11:50 am
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 3 knots
- Sky: overcast at 12,000 ft; ovct at 12,000 ft
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:53 pm from LCI, 1 miles away
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.