# Accident 20020626016149A: Piper PA28R200, Steward, IL, June 26, 2002 - Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported - Date: June 26, 2002, 13:30 local time - Place: Steward, IL - Damage: No damage - Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91) - Location: 41.8404° N, 89.0196° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.8404&lon=-89.0196&mi=10 - Aircraft: N76SA, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N76SA-2018-03-12) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry model: Piper PA-28R-200 (registry code 7102811, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28r-200) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: Lycoming I0360 series (registry code 41515, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA28R200 - NTSB investigation: [NTSB CHI02FA177](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI02FA177) (OpenAirDocs) - FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/) - Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020626016149A ## Narrative As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^. (-23) WHILE ENROUTE TO SO DAKOTA FROM VALPARAISO, IN, AT APPROXIMATELY 3000 FT, THE ENGINE PRODUCED A LOUD BANG, THE UPPER COWL BLEW OPEN, FOLLOWED BY FIRE AND SMOKE. AN EMERGENCY LANDING WAS SUCCESSFULLY ACCOMPLISHED IN A BEAN FIELD, 300 YARDS SHORT OF STATEN LANDING STRIP, 0.5 MILES WEST OF HIWAY 251, PARALLEL TO PERRY ROAD. THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR STRUT WRINKLED AND TORE THE UPPER WING SURFACE IN THE VICINITY OF THE MAIN SPAR AS A RESULT OF THE LANDING. THE RIGHT REAR CYLINDER OF THE ENGINE HAD DEPARTED THE AIRCRAFT, FUEL AND OIL BEGAN BURNING AS A RESULT OF THE HOT EXHAUST. AFTER LANDING THE PILOT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE USING THE ON BOARD FIRE EXTINGUISHER. (.19) ON JUNE 26, 2002, AT 1330 CENTRAL DAYLIGHT TIME (CDT), A PIPER PA-28R-200, N76SA, PILOTED BY A PRIVATE PILOT, SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE DURING A FORCED LANDING FOLLOWING A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER WHILE IN CRUISE FLIGHT NEAR STEWARD, ILLINOIS. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. THE PERSONAL FLIGHT WAS OPERATING UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF 14 CFR PART 91 WITHOUT A FLIGHT PLAN. THE PILOT, THE SOLE OCCUPANT OF THE AIRPLANE, REPORTED NO INJURIES. THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED FROM PORTER COUNTY MUNICIPAL AIRPORT (VPZ), VALPARAISO, INDIANA, AT 1215 CDT, AND HAD THE INTENDED DESTINATION OF CHAMBERLAND MUNICIPAL AIRPORT (9V9), CHAMBERLAND, SOUTH DAKOTA. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT'S WRITTEN STATEMENT, WHILE IN CRUISE FLIGHT AT 3,000 FEET ABOVE MEAN SEA LEVEL (MSL) THE ENGINE, "... SHUTTERED THEN EVENED OUT. ABOUT 10 SECONDS LATER DEVELOPED SERIOUS VIBRATION." THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE DECIDED TO DIVERT TO A NEARBY AIRPORT AND BEGAN TO CLIMB. THE PILOT STATED, "AT 3,500 FEET ENGINE EJECTED RIGHT REAR CYLINDER HEAD. COWLING STAYED HINGED ON LEFT. OIL SPRAY ON WINDSHIELD AND FIRE ON LOWER RIGHT OF FIREWALL." THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE SHUT DOWN THE ENGINE AND, "TRIED TO MAKE STATON AIRPORT BUT HAD FORCED LANDING IN BEAN FIELD. DAMAGED RIGHT WING IN FORCED LANDING." ## 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 CHI02FA177](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI02FA177), Jun 26, 2002: Piper PA-28R-200 (N76SA), Steward, IL, substantial damage. Probable cause: A loss of engine power due to the fatigue failure of several number three cylinder through bolts and case studs, which resulted in the separation of the number three engine cylinder. A factor… ## Other reports on N76SA (4) Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date. - [Incident 20000603029789I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000603029789I), Jun 3, 2000: Piper PA28R200 (N76SA), Valparaiso, IN, Minor damage. (-23)Pilot stated as he was flaring to land, the picture did not look right, so he elected to go-around. Pilot stated that he pulled back on yoke slightly,… - [Incident 19950609028911I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950609028911I), Jun 9, 1995: Piper PA28R200 (N76SA), Chicago/Wheelin, IL, Minor damage. During taxi brushed wing tips with N2186U. Both on taxiway. Misjudged clearance. - [Accident 19940214002359A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940214002359A), Feb 14, 1994: Piper PA28R200 (N76SA), Sandwich, IL, Substantial damage. Landed on snow and ice covered runway. Lost directional control. Began go around. Struck snowbank fell onto runway - [Incident 19880818068919I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880818068919I), Aug 18, 1988: Piper PA28R200 (N76SA), Valparaiso, IN. Forced landing at airport due to fuel exhaustion. Landed without incident. 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.