# Accident 20140702017849A: Piper PA-28-140, Granbury, TX, July 2, 2014

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 2, 2014, 08:40 local time
- Place: Granbury, TX
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 32.4361° N, 97.8133° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.4361&lon=-97.8133&mi=10
- Aircraft: N9898W, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9898W-2018-04-06) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-28-140 (registry code 7102802, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-140) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-320 series (registry code 41508, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-140
- Reported engine: LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Airline transport, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 10,341 total, 250 in this make and model, 111 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN14LA334](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN14LA334) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20140702017849A

## Narrative

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

N9898W DEPARTED RWY 14 GRANBURY REGIONAL AIRPORT (KGDJ). ON CLIMB OUT AT APPROXIMATELY 500 FEET AGL THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN TO LOSE ENGINE POWER. STUDENT ON THE CONTROLS TRANSFERED CONTROL TO INSTRUCTOR.  INSTRUCTOR ATTEMPTED TO RETURN TO THE AIRPORT, BUT DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH ENGINE POWER TO CONTINUE.  N9898W LANDED IN SMALL CLEARING ADJACENT TO HIGHWAY APPROXIMATELY 1 NM EAST OF GRANBURY REGIONAL. PILOT INTERVIEWS WERE CONSISTENT WITH THE AIRCRAFT HAVING THE ENGINE LOSE POWER AFTER TAKEOFF.  AIRCRAFT WAS RECOVERED TO AIRCRAFT SALVAGE OF DALLAS. WAITING FOR NTSB TO DETERMINE DATE OF ENGINE RUN AND TEAR DOWN ANALYSIS.

OCTOBER 1, 2014: THE ENGINE RUN WAS CONDUCTED AT AIRCRAFT SALVAGE OF DALLAS. THE ENGINE ONLY PRODUCED A MAXIMUM OF 1600 RPM AT FULL THROTTLE.  A COMPRESSION CHECK WAS ACCOMPLISHED WITH THE NUMBER 3 ENGINE CYLINDER HAVING ZERO COMPRESSION.  ALL OTHER CYLINDERS PRODUCED GOOD COMPRESSION.  THE CYLINDER HEAD WAS REMOVED, INSPECTED AND PICTURES TAKEN.

THE LYCOMING ENGINE HAD APPROXIMATELY 2040 HOURS ON IT SMOH.  THE NUMBER 3 ENGINE CYLINDER EXHAUST VALVE WAS BROKEN AND THE HEAD OF THE VALVE WAS LOCATED IN THE EXHAUST MUFFLER. THE NUMBER 3 ENGINE EXHAUST VALVE ROTATOR CAP HAD EVIDENCE THAT IT HAD STOPPED ROTATING THE VALVE, DUE TO CARBON BUILD-UP, WHICH WOULD LEAD TO A HOT SPOT ON THE VALVE CAUSING VALVE FAILURE.

## 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 CEN14LA334](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN14LA334), Jul 2, 2014: Piper PA-28-140 (N9898W), Granbury, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The partial loss of engine power due to the failure of the exhaust valve.

## Other reports on N9898W (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Accident 19761124035829A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19761124035829A), Nov 24, 1976: Piper PA28140 (N9898W), Fayette, MO, Substantial damage. Instructor overshot on wet sod runway while demostrating soft field landing.

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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