# Accident 20170516018579A: Stinson 108-2, West Creek, NJ, May 16, 2017

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 16, 2017, 20:32 local time
- Place: West Creek, NJ
- Airport: Eagles Nest
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 39.6589° N, 74.2997° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.6589&lon=-74.2997&mi=10
- Aircraft: N9366K, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9366K-2019-07-11) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Stinson 108-2 (registry code 9230406, https://openairdocs.org/model/stinson-108-2) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Franklin 6A4165 series (registry code 27025, https://openairdocs.org/engine/franklin-6a4165-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: STINSON 108-2
- Reported engine: FRANKLIN 6A4165 SERIES
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 796 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA17LA182](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA17LA182) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170516018579A

## Narrative

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

ON MAY 17, 2017 AT 20:32 LOCAL TIME, A STINSON 108-2 EXPERIENCED AN ENGINE FAILURE THAT LED TO A LOSS OF POWER AND IN-FLIGHT FIRE.  THE AIRCRAFT WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED DURING THE FORCED LANDING IN A TREE.  FAA INVESTIGATOR ARRIVED ON SCENE WITHIN HOURS OF FORCED LANDING.  AIRCRAFT WAS OBSERVED LEAKING FUEL FROM SEVERAL TANKS.  ENGINE SHOWED LARGE HOLE IN CRANKCASE INDICATIVE OF A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE.  BOTTOM SURFACE OF AIRCRAFT HAD FABRIC COVERING BURNED AWAY FOR SEVERAL FEET AFT OF FIREWALL.  FUEL SELECTOR, MIXTURE CONTROL AND MAGNETOS WERE OFF.  AIRWORTHINESS INSPECTOR ARRIVED NEXT DAY, TOOK ADDITIONAL PICTURES THAT REVEALED THE MIDDLE CYLINDER ON CO-PILOTS SIDE HAD SEPARATED, WITH A BENT CONNECTING ROD, MISSING PISTON AND MISSING EXHAUST VALVE.  THE CYLINDER AND CASE BREAK EXHIBITED DAMAGE CONSISTENT WITH CATASTROPHIC OVERLOAD.  THE INSIDE OF THE CYLINDER EXHIBITED DAMAGE CONSISTENT WITH A BROKEN VALVE BEING FORCED INTO THE CYLINDER HEAD REPEATEDLY.  THE PISTON, PISTON RINGS, PISTON PIN AND EXHAUST VALVE HEAD WERE NOT ABLE TO BE LOCATED AT THE SCENE.  ENGINE WAS DISASSEMBLED AT SALVAGE YARD BY NTSB AND FAA OFFICIALS.  UPPER HALF OF EXHAUST VALVE STEM FOUND STILL LODGED IN GUIDE.  LARGE AMOUNTS OF FREE PLAY EXISTED BETWEEN STEM AND GUIDE, EVIDENCE OF EXCESSIVE WEAR.  PUSHROD SHROUD AND PUSHROD OF SUBJECT VALVE BOTH BENT.  VALVE FAILED MIDWAY UP STEM AND HAD FALLEN INTO CYLINDER AND JAMMED PISTON, CAUSING ENTIRE CYLINDER ASSEMBLY TO BE BROKEN OFF CRANKCASE.  THE SUBJECT CYLINDER WAS NOT ONE OF THE TWO THAT HAD BEEN REMOVED AND REPLACED AT LAST ANNUAL.  WHILE THE ENGINE COULD NOT BE TURNED, THE MAGNETOS AND CARBURETOR DID NOT HAVE ANY VISUAL DEFECTS OR EVIDENCE OF 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 ERA17LA182](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA17LA182), May 17, 2017: Stinson 108 (N9366K), West Creek, NJ, substantial damage. Probable cause: A total loss of engine power due to the No. 4 cylinder’s exhaust valve getting stuck and the subsequent fracturing of the valve face stem.

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.