# Accident 19980711016509A: Cessna 172N, Lincoln, TX, July 11, 1998

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 11, 1998, 12:47 local time
- Place: Lincoln, TX
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 30.3109° N, 96.9703° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.3109&lon=-96.9703&mi=10
- Aircraft: N5632E, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5632E-1999-08-24) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 172N (registry code 2072434, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172N
- Reported engine: LYC O320H2AD
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 105 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB FTW98FA307](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW98FA307) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980711016509A

## Narrative

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

(.4) WITNESSES OBSERVED THE AIRPLANE MANEUVERING AT A LOW ALTITUDE WITH BLACK SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. DURING LANDING TOWARD THE SOUTHWEST ON STATE HIGHWAY 21, AT THE INTERSECTION OF FARM ROAD 1624, THE AIRPLANE WENT UNDER THE POWER LINES WHICH SPAN STATE HIGHWAY 21 STRIKING THE LOWER WIRE, AND CONTINUED UNDER THE FLASHING TRAFFIC SIGNAL LIGHTS WHICH ALSO SPAN STATE HIGHWAY 21. THE AIRPLANE'S RIGHT WING TIP IMPACTED A STOP SIGN. THE AIRPLANE TOUCHED DOWN AND BOUNCED, VEERED TO THE RIGHT, AND THEN IMPACTED A CONVENIENCE STORE'S GASOLINE PUMPS. THE AIRPLANE EXPLODED INTO FLAMES AND WAS CONSUMED BY THE POST CRASH FIRE. EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED THAT THE #3 CYLINDER EXHAUST VALVE ROCKER ARM FULCRUM WAS DISPLACED, AND THE ROCKER ARM RETAINING STUD COULD BE TURNED BY HAND. THE TAPPED HOLE IN THE CYLINDER HEAD FOR THE EXHAUST ROCKER ARM RETAINING SUD DID NOT CONFORM TO BLUEPRINT SPECIFICATIONS. THERE WAS ALSO EVIDENCE WHICH INDICATED A PROBABLE RECENT MAINTENANCE ACTIVITY ON THE #3 CYLINDER. THE AIRCRAFT'S OPERATOR COULD NOT LOCATE THE AIRPLANE'S AIRFRAME AND ENGINE LOGBOOKS. (-23) WITNESSES STATED THAT THE ENGINE WAS SMOKING AND FLYING VERY LOW. AIR                         CRAFT ATTEMPTED TO LAND ON HIGHWAY 21 WEST. THE RIGHT WING CONTACTED A LARGE (APPROX. 4') STOP SIGN WITH THE RIGHT WING TURNING THE AIRCRAFT TO THE RIGHT - LANDED HARD AND BOUNCED INTO (3) FUEL PUMPS AND BURNED.

## 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 FTW98FA307](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW98FA307), Jul 11, 1998: Cessna 172N (N5632E), Lincoln, TX, destroyed. Probable cause: The #3 cylinder exhaust valve rocker arm fulcrum retaining stud backing out of its stud-tapped hole due to the improper tapping of the stud hole by unknown maintenance personnel. Contributing factors…

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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