# Incident 20200518008199I: Cessna 172M, May 18, 2020

- Type: FAA incident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 18, 2020, 07:41 local time
- Airport: Pegasus Airpark
- Damage: No damage
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft: N1273U, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1273U) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 172M (registry code 2072418, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172m) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-320 series (registry code 41508, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172M
- Reported engine: LYCOMING 0-360 SERIES
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200518008199I

## Narrative

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

AIRCRAFT WAS ENROUTE FROM RUBY STAR AIRPORT (14AZ) TO FALCON FIELD AT APPROXIMATELY 6500 FT MSL WHEN THE ENGINE BEGAN RUNNING ROUGH AND OIL COVERED THE WINDSHIELD. THE PILOT STATED THE ENGINE BEGAN TO SHUDDER & THEN IT GOT QUIET. THE PILOT REPORTED ?MAYDAY? (HAVING AN EMERGENCY) AND WAS DIRECTED BY PHX APPROACH TO CONTACT TO MESA-GATEWAY (IWA) WHEN HE WAS APPROXIMATELY 13 MILES SOUTH OF IWA. HE TOLD CONTROLLER THAT HE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO MAKE THE AIRPORT AND DECIDED TO LAND AT PEGASUS AIRPORT.

PILOT WAS ABLE TO GLIDE SAFELY TO PEGASUS AIRPORT AND LANDED WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT.

A MECHANIC LOOKED THE ENGINE OVER ONCE ON THE GROUND AND FOUND A HOLE PUNCHED IN THE UPPER LH SIDE OF THE ENGINE CASE. LATER INSPECTION OF ENGINE FOUND THE #2 CYL EXHAUST VALVE TAPPET HAD THE BACK END MISSING, AND WAS LAYING LOOSE IN THE ENGINE CASE. THERE WERE TWO OTHER CRACKS FOUND IN THE ENGINE CASE  - ON THE BACK OF #4 CYL & FRONT OF #2 CYL. THE PROPELLER WAS ABLE TO ROTATE, BUT #1 PISTON WAS NOT MOVING IN THE CYLINDER, AND THE TOP SPARKPLUG HAD ALUMINUM CHIPS IN IT.

THE DAMAGED AIRCRAFT ENGINE WAS REMOVED FROM THE AIRFRAME AND A REPLACEMENT ENGINE WITH 50 HOURS TIME SOH WAS INSTALLED ON THE AIRCRAFT. THE AIRCRAFT IS CURRENTLY BACK UP & FLYING WITHOUT ANY FURTHER ISSUES.

## Other reports on N1273U (2)

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

- [Incident 19781228020209I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19781228020209I), Dec 28, 1978: Cessna 172M (N1273U), Kingston, NY, Minor damage. Pilot lost directional control after touchdown on an icy runway.
- [Accident 19780926031141A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19780926031141A), Sep 26, 1978: Cessna 172M (N1273U), Farmingdale,Ny, NY, Substantial damage

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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