# Incident 20050617012879I: Cessna 172N, Boca Chica, FL, June 17, 2005

- Type: FAA incident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: June 17, 2005, 15:45 local time
- Place: Boca Chica, FL
- Damage: Minor damage
- Phase of flight: Normal Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft: N734SK, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N734SK-2017-02-16) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 172N (registry code 2072434, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-320 series (registry code 41508, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172N
- Reported engine: LYC O320H2AD
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 10,000 total, 2,000 in this make and model, 150 in the last 90 days
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050617012879I

## Narrative

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

(-23) ON 17 JUNE 05, AT APPROXIMATELY 1500HRS AND 35 NAUTICAL MILES NORTH OF KEY WEST INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT AT AN ALTITUDE OF 5,500 FT, AIRCRAFT N734SK ENGINE BEGAN TO RUN ROUGH. AFTER COMMUNICATING WITH MIAMI CENTER DECISION IS MADE TO TURN BACK TO KEY WEST. MINUTES LATER ENGINE BEGINS TO RUN ROUGHER WITH LOSS IN OIL PRESSURE. PILOT COMMUNICATES WITH MIAMI CENTER AND NAVY APPROACH FOR CLOSEST AIRPORT. PILOT REPORTS UNABLE TO MAKE AIRPORT AND DECISION IS MADE TO LAND AIRCRAFT IN OCEAN. AIRCRAFT LANDS IN WATER AND PILOT AND STUDENT EVACUATE AIRCRAFT WITHOUT INJURY. FISHING BOAT RESCUE PILOTS. AIRCRAFT N734SK SINKS IN 25 FEET OF WATER. AIRCRAFT IS LATER REMOVED FROM WATER BY SALVAGE COMPANY. ON JUNE 23, 2005 INSPECTED AIRCRAFT AND FOUND THE FOLLOWING: INSPECTED ENGINE AND FOUND #3 CYLINDER DISLODGED FROM MOUNTING STUDS - ENGINE CASING CRACKED OPEN APPROX 8"L X 6"W ACROSS JUST ABOVE #3 CYLINDER AREA WITH CAM AND A CONNECTING ROD FOR #3 PISTON REVEALED - CAM BROKEN OFF AT #3 CYLINDER LOCATION - CONNECTING ROD BROKE OFF FROM #3 PISTON AT ATTACH POINT AT BOTTOM OF PISTON - NO PROP DAMAGE. REVIEW OF MAINTENANCE RECORDS STILL IN PROGRESS. ENGINE APPROX SMOH: 836.20.

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.