19990712039149A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Cessna 172H · Falmouth, KY · July 12, 1999

Date: July 12, 1999 · 12:25 local
Place: Falmouth, KY
Airport: Gene Snyder Airport
Phase of flight: Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N3213L
NTSB investigation: NTSBNYC99LA173
Reported as: Cessna 172H
Fatal injuries: 0
Pilot’s flight hours: 1,399 total849 in this make and model44 in the last 90 days

N3213LRegistration cancelled May 1, 2000 · Cessna 172HS/N 17256113 Airframe modelCessna 172H

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

(.4)On the day of the accident, maintenance was preformed on the number one cylinder to dislodge a stuck valve. The pilot then refueled the airplane and taxied for departure. Once airborne, the pilot climbed to a cruise altitude of 3,500 feet MSL without difficulty. Approximately 45 minutes into the flight, the engine started running rough. The pilot diverted, but before he could complete a successful precautionary landing, there was a total loss of engine power. The airplane crashed into trees. Prior to the engine running 'rough', EGT was indicating 'normal.' After the engine started running 'rough', the EGT dropped to below 'normal.' The EGT sensor was located on the number one cylinder. No anomalies with the engine were found after the accident except for a broken intake valve rocker-arm on the number one cylinder. Examination of the rocker-arm revealed no evidence of fatigue or any other form of progressive crack growth. (-23) no narrative

As the FAA filed it

(.4)ON THE DAY OF THE ACCIDENT, MAINTENANCE WAS PREFORMED ON THE NUMBER ONE CYLINDER TO DISLODGE A STUCK VALVE. THE PILOT THEN REFUELED THE AIRPLANE AND TAXIED FOR DEPARTURE. ONCE AIRBORNE, THE PILOT CLIMBED TO A CRUISE ALTITUDE OF 3,500 FEET MSL WITHOUT DIFFICULTY. APPROXIMATELY 45 MINUTES INTO THE FLIGHT, THE ENGINE STARTED RUNNING ROUGH. THE PILOT DIVERTED, BUT BEFORE HE COULD COMPLETE A SUCCESSFUL PRECAUTIONARY LANDING, THERE WAS A TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. THE AIRPLANE CRASHED INTO TREES. PRIOR TO THE ENGINE RUNNING 'ROUGH', EGT WAS INDICATING 'NORMAL.' AFTER THE ENGINE STARTED RUNNING 'ROUGH', THE EGT DROPPED TO BELOW 'NORMAL.' THE EGT SENSOR WAS LOCATED ON THE NUMBER ONE CYLINDER. NO ANOMALIES WITH THE ENGINE WERE FOUND AFTER THE ACCIDENT EXCEPT FOR A BROKEN INTAKE VALVE ROCKER-ARM ON THE NUMBER ONE CYLINDER. EXAMINATION OF THE ROCKER-ARM REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF FATIGUE OR ANY OTHER FORM OF PROGRESSIVE CRACK GROWTH. (-23) NO NARRATIVE

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB NYC99LA173Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportFalmouth, KYA stuck intake-valve on the number one cylinder which resulted in a loss of engine power.Jul 12, 1999 · Substantial damage