# Accident 20050704014549A: Aronca C3AERONCA, Summerville, SC, July 4, 2005

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 4, 2005, 15:00 local time
- Place: Summerville, SC
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 33.0608° N, 80.2236° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.0608&lon=-80.2236&mi=10
- Aircraft: N14532, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N14532) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Aeronca C-3 (registry code 0190302, https://openairdocs.org/model/aeronca-c-3) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Aeronca E113 series (registry code 01002, https://openairdocs.org/engine/aeronca-e113-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ARONCA C3AERONCA
- Reported engine: ARONCA E113B
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 0 total, 0 in this make and model, 0 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ATL05CA122](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL05CA122) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050704014549A

## Narrative

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

(-23) PILOT STATED AFTER FLYING FOR 25 MINUTES AND AT AN ALTITUDE OF 950' FEET MSL THE AIRCRAFT LOST POWER. THE TACHOMETER DROPPED FROM 2,400 RPM TO 1,000 RPM. A LANDING WAS INITIALLY ATTEMPTED AT A NEARBY GRASS AIRSTRIP BUT IT WAS IN USE BY A DEPARTING AIRCRAFT. THE AIRCRAFT CONTINUED TO LOSE ALTITUDE AND IMPACTED TERRAIN IN A WOODED AREA. AFTER THE AIRCRAFT WAS RECOVERED FROM THE SCENE, SUBSEQUENT INVESTIGATION SHOWED THAT THE LEFT CYLINDER INTAKE VALVE WOULD NOT OPEN AS THE ENGINE WAS HAND CYCLED THROUGH. THE INTAKE VALVE WOULD NOT OPEN BECAUSE THE MECHANICAL PUSHROD LIFTER WAS OUT OF ADJUSTMENT. THE LIFTER ADJUSTMENT JAM NUT WAS LOOSE AND HAD ALLOWED THE LIFTER ADJUSTMENT TO BOTTOM OUT. THE IMPROPERLY ADJUSTED FILTER WOULD NOT ALLOW PROPER TRAVEL OF THE PUSHROD AND ROCKER ARM. THE ROCKER ARM COULD NOT COMPRESS/OPEN THE INTAKE VALVE.

## 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 ATL05CA122](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL05CA122), Jul 4, 2005: Aeronca C3 (N14532), Summerville, SC, substantial damage. Probable cause: The maintenance personnel failure to secure the intake valve adjustment jam nut which resulted in excessive valve clearance, and the subsequent loss of engine power.

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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