# Accident 19971019031469A: Cessna 150M, Miami, FL, October 19, 1997

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: October 19, 1997, 10:30 local time
- Place: Miami, FL
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 25.7602° N, 80.1406° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=25.7602&lon=-80.1406&mi=10
- Aircraft: N7814U, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7814U-2001-01-22) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 150M (registry code 2071830, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150m) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 150M
- Reported engine: CONT O200A
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 190 total, 180 in this make and model
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ATL98LA003](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL98LA003) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19971019031469A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

ENGINE BEGAN TO RUN ROUGH SIEZED. RIGHT WING STRUCK PALMTREE ON GOLF COURSE(.4)ABOUT 10 MINUTES INTO THE FLIGHT, AT A CRUISE ALTITUDE OF 1000 FEET, THE PILOT EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. HE RADIOED A 'MAYDAY' CALL AND SELECTED A NEARBY GOLF COURSE FOR AN EMERGENCY LANDING. THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH A PALM TREE DURING THE EMERGENCY LANDING ROLL. EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE ASSEMBLY REVEALED THAT NUMBER ONE CYLINDER LOWER SPARK PLUG WAS PARTIALLY SEPARATED FROM THE CYLINDER. DURING THE SUBSEQUENT ENGINE TEARDOWN, THE NUMBER ONE EXHAUST VALVE HEAD WAS RECOVERED FROM INSIDE THE CYLINDER. THE EXAMINATION ALSO OF THE EXHAUST VALVE STEM AND THE AND THE VALVE STEM KEEPERS SHOWED EXCESSIVE WEAR. THE VALVE STEM KEEPERS HAD ALSO SEPARATED FROM THEIR NORMALLY INSTALLED POSITIONS. A REVIEW OF THE AIRCRAFT MAINTENANCE LOGS DISCLOSED THAT THE ENGINE HAD UNDERGONE SEVERAL MAJOR ENGINE REPAIRS, INVOLVING THE VALVE ASSEMBLIES, WITHIN THE LAST TEN YEARS. AN ENGINE TOP OVERHAUL WAS COMPLETED 370 HOURS BEFORE THIS ACCIDENT. THE ENGINE HAD ACCUMULATED A TOTAL OF 5,603 HOURS.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB ATL98LA003](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL98LA003), Oct 19, 1997: Cessna 150M (N7814U), Miami, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: excessive wear to the number one valve stem and valve stem keepers that resulted in the separation of the valve assembly.

## Other reports on N7814U (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Incident 19901017054859I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19901017054859I), Oct 17, 1990: Cessna 150M (N7814U), Cordele, GA. Engine seized. Landed safely. NR2 cylinder swallowed intake and exhaust valves.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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