20041002024869A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Univar 108 · Ashland, AL · October 2, 2004

Date: October 2, 2004 · 08:30 local
Place: Ashland, AL
Phase of flight: Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N40129
NTSB investigation: NTSBATL05LA001
Reported as: Univar 108
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 0
Pilot’s flight hours: 9,387 total55 in this make and model122 in the last 90 days

N40129Registration cancelled Aug 11, 2007 · Stinson 108S/N 108-59 · Built 1946 Airframe modelStinson 108 Engine modelFranklin 6A4150 seriesReciprocating

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.

(-23) While on a flight to Ashland, AL (26A) at 2500 MSL, the pilot of N40129 lost power and picked out an emergency landing field. The aircraft hit a small tree with the prop at about 16 feet above ground. This caused the aircraft to yaw to the left and the vertical sink rate increased. The aircraft left landing gear broke causing damage to the firewall and propeller. The loss of engine power was caused by an exhaust valve in the #4 cylinder had failed and the barrell of the cylinder had disintegrated leaving the cylinder head free of the engine.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) WHILE ON A FLIGHT TO ASHLAND, AL (26A) AT 2500 MSL, THE PILOT OF N40129 LOST POWER AND PICKED OUT AN EMERGENCY LANDING FIELD. THE AIRCRAFT HIT A SMALL TREE WITH THE PROP AT ABOUT 16 FEET ABOVE GROUND. THIS CAUSED THE AIRCRAFT TO YAW TO THE LEFT AND THE VERTICAL SINK RATE INCREASED. THE AIRCRAFT LEFT LANDING GEAR BROKE CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE FIREWALL AND PROPELLER. THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER WAS CAUSED BY AN EXHAUST VALVE IN THE #4 CYLINDER HAD FAILED AND THE BARRELL OF THE CYLINDER HAD DISINTEGRATED LEAVING THE CYLINDER HEAD FREE OF THE ENGINE.

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 ATL05LA001Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportAshland, ALA total loss of engine power in cruise flight due to the fatigue failure of the No.4 cylinder exhaust valve.Oct 2, 2004 · Substantial damage