# Accident 20071002023059A: Cessna 172N, Espanola, NM, October 2, 2007

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: October 2, 2007, 12:00 local time
- Place: Espanola, NM
- Airport: San Juan Pueblo
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 31.8533° N, 111.0006° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.8533&lon=-111.0006&mi=10
- Aircraft: N6291D (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172N
- Reported engine: LYC O320H2AD
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB SEA08LA001](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA08LA001) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20071002023059A

## Narrative

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

(-23) THE AIRCRAFT IS OWNED AND OPERATED BY TUCSON AEROSERVICE CENTER INC. AND MAINTAINED BY TUCSON AEROSERVICE CENTER INC. FAA CERTIFICATED REPAIR STATION YXUR055J (YXUR) LOCATED IN MARANA AZ. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE #3 CYLINDER EXHAUST ROCKER ARM HAD DISCONNECTED FROM THE CYLINDER CAUSING THE ENGINE TO LOSE POWER RESULTING IN THE FORCED LANDING AND SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE AIRCRAFT. ACCORDING TO RECORDS, THE #1 AND #3 CYLINDERS WERE REMOVED TO REPAIR OIL LEAKING FROM THE CYLINDER HOLD DOWN STUDS ON 9/14/2007, 13.4 HOURS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. THE PERSONNEL AT THE REPAIR STATION HAD NOT REMOVED THE ROCKER COVERS OR THE ROCKER ARMS FROM THE CYLINDERS. THE PROCEDURES USED TO REMOVE AND REPLACE THE ENGINE CYLINDERS IS CONTRARY TO AVCO LYCOMING 76 SERIES OVERHAUL MANUAL SECTION 5 PARAGRAPH 5-8 WHICH REQUIRES THE REMOVAL OF THE ROCKER BOX COVER AND ROCKER ARMS AND THE REQUIREMENT FOR SETTING THE VALVE CLEARANCE PER PARAGRAPH 5-90. APPARENTLY THE ROCKER ARM WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BACKING OFF THE CYLINDER AND HAD THE PROPER PROCEDURE BEEN USED TO INSTALL THE CYLINDER THE DISCREPANCY WOULD HAVE BEEN NOTED AND CORRECTED, PREVENTING THE ACCIDENT.

## 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 SEA08LA001](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA08LA001), Oct 2, 2007: Cessna 172N (N6291D), Green Valley, AZ, substantial damage. Probable cause: The loss of engine power due to the separation of the number three cylinder exhaust rocker arm.

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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